Studying abroad has taught me a great deal about myself. I've been fortunate enough over the previous two months to travel and experience places I never thought I'd see. Studying abroad has made me more willing to try things that I would not typically try. My time studying abroad has unquestionably shaped me for the better.
I've been here for a little over two months now, and I can say that I've evolved as a person since I initially arrived. I've had the opportunity to travel to France, Italy, Amsterdam, and numerous locations within the United Kingdom. Having to navigate through so many new countries has made me more self-aware and confident. Traveling to a foreign country for the first time is difficult, and the fact that I was able to navigate and even understand their subway systems demonstrates my independence. Before studying abroad, I was apprehensive about visiting new locations or traveling with someone that I didn't know. Over the last few weeks, I've become more open to seeing new locations and taking the time to get to know where I'm going. This makes me immensely proud of myself since it has helped me to get out of my shell and not let anything stop me. It is such an accomplishment to travel to all these places with my closest friends because we took the time to research and figure out what we could do to make our study abroad experience even more memorable.
My favorite aspect of my study abroad experience thus far has been witnessing how much I have grown. Coming here, I was more shy and reserved, preferring to do things that I was already comfortable doing. Now I'm more willing to travel and try new things that I definitely wouldn't do at home. Since September, I've gotten much more self-reliant, which I believe is a vital quality because you can't rely on others to do things you enjoy; you have to go out and do it for yourself. This study abroad opportunity has been incredible, and I am so thankful to have been a part of it; it has truly transformed my life.
