How I Changed While Abroad

It’s hard to believe that I’m home after two months studying art history in Rome and Paris. In some ways, it feels like it didn’t even happen because my life at home is just as it was before my departure to Rome in May. However, when I take a moment to think back on my experience, it all comes flooding back as if my European life is flashing before my eyes. I can imagine the moments with my roommates like when we would all squeeze into our apartment’s tiny elevator after a gelato run. I can also imagine silly moments from class where we would all squeeze on two tiny museum benches as our professor explained sculptures from Ancient Rome. Most of all, I remember the beautiful views, whether it was the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa, the sunny, rocky beach outside of Sorrento, or the absolutely perfect sunset behind a spontaneous trip to the Eiffel Tower. Around every corner, there was something to see. Obviously, my experience abroad was not entirely about seeing pretty sights. I also learned a lot about myself. For the rest of this final blog post, I will share a list of things I have learned or ways I have grown over the last couple months.

• I can be a lot more flexible than I realized. Studying abroad and having a predictable day do not go together. If you didn't feel like a flexible person before your program, you will become one by the end.
• My self-confidence has increased. In many ways, this goes with becoming more flexible. When I learned to trust myself in new, uncertain experiences, I became more confident in all areas of my life.
• I can figure almost anything out. It was easy to spend a lot of time worrying about the outcome of random experiences, but I became really great at reminding myself that I can find a solution no matter what comes my way. Believe it or not, this is true for almost any negative experience you can think of.
• I don't have unlimited museum stamina. I love art, and I love to learn, but I can only spend so much time in one museum before the sculptures and descriptions begin blurring together. Nonetheless, every moment I did spend in museums was a valuable experience in shaping my view of the world.
• I'm more of a homebody than I thought. I absolutely love the excitement of exploring new cities, and I will never stop traveling throughout my life, but I also love being close to the people I love. If this is you, know that both things can be true at once, and you will still have a great experience where you learn so much about the world and yourself.
• I can be really independent. I greatly value having people to spend time with, but I learned just how capable I am of doing things on my own, too. It's a unique experience to explore a new city without other people.
• I will never regret studying abroad. I grew in so many ways, beyond what is in this list, and you will, too. Experiencing new countries with new cultures is invaluable, and I know I will take what I learned into every opportunity I have, from viewing my own relationships to becoming a speech-language pathologist.

My advice for this final blog post is simple: study abroad. Other than unforgettable experiences with new people, you will truly learn so much about yourself. Some of it, you won't even realize until after you're home. That being said, studying abroad is challenging both physically and mentally. You will walk more than you ever have, sometimes climbing flights upon flights of stairs, but you will also constantly stretch your brain. You can also have the time of your life in a new city while missing home, and homesickness can be strong at times. The most important part is that you will overcome that feeling, and it will only make you stronger. You will learn to be flexible, to overcome obstacles, and to navigate a wide variety of new experiences. If you are on the fence, take this as your sign to apply. No matter the experience you have on your trip, you will gain a new perspective of yourself and the world around you. Safe travels!