For most people, the idea of traveling alone may seem daunting. For senior family science and pre-nursing major Brigitte Smith, fear is no obstacle.
After three years at UMD and much consideration, Smith decided to spend the first semester of her senior year studying in Australia, known for its beautiful Bondi Beach and tasty Vegemite. As someone who claims to have “FOMO,” Smith was originally nervous about leaving her friends at Maryland and missing out on opportunities back in college.
“I figured that I would go abroad, and when I would come back, everyone would still be here, no one would disappear,” she said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity for a challenge and to do something different from what I was experiencing every day at Maryland.”
Smith’s passion for traveling alone sparked during the summer after her freshman year. She and her sister had planned to attend the Tomorrowland music festival in Belgium, and at the very last minute, her sister could no longer go on the trip. Regardless of Smith’s apprehension at the idea of traveling on her own, she decided to take on the adventure. Though her experiences, Smith soon realized that traveling alone does not necessarily have to mean always being alone.
“You meet people who are so similar to you from all different parts of the world,” she said. “I’m leaving the friendships that I have here and that I’m stable with, and I’m going out to a new environment and meeting totally new people and making new friends, even if it’s just for the day.”
As a female, Smith sometimes receives flak for choosing to travel on her own, with the safety of her decision being a common concern. Smith explained how she believes women can and should travel independently just like men do.
“You just have to be smart about who you hang out with and where you’re going, and always, if you meet someone, meet them in a public place,” she said. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Definitely take some risks, but don’t overdue it.”
From bike riding around the city with a person she had just met on the train to making new friends while in line to buy a smoothie, Smith gained many companions abroad. Yet, no friend could ever compare to her best pal Rocky, a “fun and adventurous” Golden Retriever.
“Rocky and I immediately hit it off, and we have been on many adventures together over the past few years,” she said. “We went swimming in a lake, hiking in Maryland, participated in this year’s and last year’s snowball fights, crashed a random dress up hipster party, and have had several Shabbat dinners together.”
Although she and Rocky are inseparable today, Smith has had some trouble with dogs in the past. When she was seven years old, Smith owned a vicious Cocker Spaniel. The dog bit her face, forcing her to get 32 stitches under the eye. Having this experience at such a young age, Smith was initially afraid of dogs, but as a person who never allows fear to stand in her way, Smith learned to love the animal that many deem to be “man’s best friend.”
Through conquering her fears, Smith has embraced many new and diverse experiences and in doing so, has ultimately discovered her preferences and aspirations. With such fond memories, Smith offered a bit of advice to those just beginning their four years at Maryland.
“I would say that as a freshman, you should take every opportunity and go for it… join clubs, organizations, try as many things as you can,” she said. “There’s so much that this campus has to offer. After getting a ton thrown at you freshman year, you can then pick and choose what you like and what you don’t like. I joined a sorority freshman year, and then sophomore year, I realized it wasn’t for me, so I disaffiliated. But there was no harm in joining it, I’m happy I did.”
Smith looks back on her time at UMD and in Australia with nothing but appreciation, and she believes that going abroad led her to appreciate her life on campus all the more so. With the end of her time in college approaching, she feels a strong sense of fulfillment.
“Coming in freshman year was pretty hard… I didn’t really have my set group of friends, I wasn’t set academically, but now this semester, I know how to study, I know my friends, I know what I like to do here, everything just kind of fell into place,” she said.
Finally, with graduation around the corner, Smith definitely has mixed feelings at the idea of leaving her beloved campus.
“I’m sad, I’m really sad to graduate and not live in a building with all my best friends,” she said. “But I’m also excited to see what next year has to offer and to have new experiences.”
For most people, the idea of graduating may seem daunting, but for Smith, fear is no obstacle.