Ever since I returned from my semester abroad, many people have asked me, “How was your time abroad?” or, “What was your favorite part of the semester?” These questions have given me a lot to think about and reflect on. From city explorations to crawling back from a night out as the sun rises, to daily lighthearted lunch and dinner conversations; there is a great deal of moments to choose from. To easily summarize my experience, it was great. I made lifelong friends, countless memories, and even traveled to different countries within Europe. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. I truly don’t think I can fully express and put into words my experience abroad. Yes, there were ups and downs. There were some nights I would rather forget and some I always want to remember. Needless to say, I would do it all again in a heartbeat (both the good and the bad).
It sounds cliché, but being abroad was like being in a movie. It felt like I was the main character, and everyone was living in my world. If life was a movie, then I went through some major character development. My time abroad helped me learn more about myself. It taught me how to focus – not only on myself – but how I handle my relationships with others. I learned how to become more independent and confident. If I’m being honest, I wondered if I made the right decision when I first started to settle in London. Waves of regret and anxiety rolled over me as I was unpacking my suitcases. However, these feelings soon went away and were replaced by feelings of joy, excitement, and confidence. This experience helped me grow and become a more self-assured person. For example, I was always one to not ask people to join them at a lunch table or randomly introduce myself. However, I found myself doing both of those actions left and right. Lastly, my time abroad gave me a clearer vision of what I want in life. I have always heard that studying abroad is a “once-in-a-lifetime experience,” and I believed that for a while. Yet, as I write this reflection, I realize that I don’t want to experience this only once. I understand that I won’t be able to study abroad again during my time in college, but what I want to experience again is the constant excitement and sense of adventure. I want to live on a whim and plan as I go. I want to be in a place where I’m happy with whatever happens instead of regretting the smallest decisions. I want to meet more people from around the world and be able to call them my friends.
As I reflected upon my experience, the thought that always kept coming to mind was, “I wish I had more time.” Yes, it was hard to leave the friends I saw every day and a city that I was beginning to fall in love with. Yes, there are some days that I wish I was back in London. Yet, I’m confident that I will be able to travel again and live a life of excitement. Also, in case you were wondering, for those who are considering studying abroad, I recommend it with all of my heart. I truly believe that it is a decision that you will not regret.