Having spent my first year abroad in Valencia, Spain, I found that returning to a U.S. college campus for the first time as a sophomore was definitely a learning curve. I was excited about getting established on campus and finally being able to go to football games, but not quite ready to give up my weekends of travel and being immersed in a new culture.
I had heard of “reverse culture shock,” but doubted that I would be affected by it. However, once I arrived at FSU, I did experience the unique hurdles students face as they reintegrate into their home campus after an amazing year studying abroad.
Perhaps the hardest part of this experience was navigating the homesickness for a place I didn’t know when I would return to. While I was excited to be on campus, I missed Valencia, the place I had called home for my entire freshman year. Having the support of my study abroad friendships made this easier, but to combat this I tried to spend as much time on campus as possible.
By doing so, I frequently ran into familiar faces, whether from my study abroad experience, classes, or my involvement on campus. These encounters made the campus feel a lot smaller to me, and I developed a better sense of community here, reinforcing my sense of belonging.
Being an out-of-state student, I am grateful for having studied abroad because it equipped me with a built-in community upon returning to Florida State. However, I was ready to branch out and broaden my community through involvement on campus. During my first semester, I joined a lot of organizations, experimenting with what would stick.
Joining these organizations not only helped me meet new people but also allowed me to explore my interests and passions more deeply. Whether it was an international club, an academic organization, or just for fun, these affiliations played a crucial role in making me feel connected to the campus community. There are so many ways to get involved at Florida State, which allowed me to create pockets of community all over campus!
While dealing with the adjustment of establishing myself on campus, the more demanding coursework caught me by surprise. My time in Spain had allowed me a more relaxed approach to studying, with a focus on experiential learning. Returning to a more rigorous academic schedule and getting into my actual major was challenging, but I soon realized that my study abroad experience had equipped me with valuable skills such as adaptability. I incorporated these skills into my coursework and how I handled my academics making my transition smoother.
Studying abroad supplied me with a unique set of skills and experiences that have proven to be valuable in my academic and social life. Now returning to Florida State for my second year on campus and third year overall, I can say with confidence that my experiences abroad and on campus have contributed to my love for this school! While navigating this transition was harder than I initially thought, I used campus and my experiences to create a new home here.
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