Study Abroad: Was It Worth It?

With just 12 days left before I leave Amsterdam, I’ve found myself reflecting on my study abroad experience. I can’t believe how fast time flies while studying abroad. It felt like just yesterday that I was packing my bags, saying my goodbyes, and hopping on a plane to the Netherlands for the next six weeks. Now, I am getting ready to repack my things and close my study abroad chapter. Before I return home, I wanted to attempt to answer a question that I’ve been asking myself for the past few days: was it worth it?

Studying abroad was not what I expected (in the best way possible)

I left home with a list of places I wanted to visit, a lot of things I wanted to do, and goals I hoped to achieve. A lot of these things I have checked off, and others I replaced with even better things! Something I did not expect was how much this experience would shape how I view the world and myself. 

Firstly, I’ve learned how to be more independent in a way that’s different than just living on my own. I learned how to embrace uncertainty, ask for help when needed, and learn from my mistakes. I learned that despite all of the differences, there are so many similarities that I share with people all the way across the globe. Holding onto these similarities and moments of connection has helped me feel more at home, even across different cultures and languages. I also learned how important it is to become comfortable with the uncomfortable and to step out of my comfort zone! I pushed myself to say yes more often and try new things even if I was scared. 

I didn’t become a totally different person abroad, but I did become more me. I have become a version of myself that is more curious, self-reliant, and adventurous! In a new country where you can feel extremely out of place, I started to appreciate the smallest comforts, like a familiar walk home or developing a routine. Of course, there were days when I began to question if I was studying abroad “correctly". In between these moments of doubt and discomfort, I stopped comparing my experience to others and took studying abroad day by day.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely! I don’t think I will ever be able to truly explain my study abroad experience to the fullest, which is why it's important for you to study abroad if you have the opportunity to.

Studying abroad was worth it, not because it was perfect, but because it was real. It was real in the sense that I felt everything naturally: the good, the bad, and the mundane. Living in the Netherlands and adopting a new culture became part of my everyday routine. Every day, there was growth and honesty and a constant feeling of learning how the world works beyond the bubble that I grew up in. 

I’m not ready to say goodbye to Amsterdam and my study abroad friends just yet, but I am ready to soak in every moment before I go back home!