“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.” – Maya Angelou
How has my study abroad experience changed me? There are so many answers to that question. One change is my level of self-confidence. This semester gave me the opportunity to see how independent I really could be.
Spending four months in Paris Europe , with all the surrounding countries to visit, which required making some tough decisions. We all arrived here with goals and priorities for how we wanted to spend our precious time and euros. This led to some group activities, and other times everyone splitting off in different directions.
I put my confidence to the test by learning to navigate through airports and train stations alone, sometimes in places where I did not speak the language, and figuring out how to reach my destinations. I discovered that getting lost isn’t always a bad thing. I met strangers who became friends. I came to realize that if you REALLY want to do something, you have to ‘just do it.’
Most of my travels around Europe were in the company of others, but there were a few times I found myself going it alone. One example is the Cinque Terre in Italy
As I prepare to return home, I am already planning future trips in my dreams! I feel confident to travel anywhere now, and I am looking forward to new adventures. I am grateful for each experience I have had, all the highs and the lows. They have prepared me to face any challenge I meet, whether it is traveling the world, or back in my everyday life at home.
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