Studying abroad gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. In my short three months of living in Spain, I made amazing friends from all over the world, connected with diverse professors, and travelled to seven different countries. I don’t think I would have ever had this type of experience if  I hadn’t studied abroad.
I learned more about myself as a person in the last three months than I have in the last 20 years. I lived with a family in Spain that spoke strictly Spanish; meanwhile, I was still learning the language. Doing this, though, fully immersed me into the culture. We had three typical Spanish meals a day, lived in a little apartment, and walked everywhere (no one even owns cars). I am a notorious picky eater, but the food was amazing! Â
Overall, this experience taught me how to be independent. I was thousands of miles away from anything familiar, my friends, my family, and my school. I was pushed out of my comfort zone on a daily basis. I feel like I can navigate myself around any area now after getting lost in Spain countless times. I also feel much more open and accepting of other cultures because I realized first-hand what it’s like to be a minority in a foreign country. It was tough at first because of the language barrier, but after a while I adjusted and I met some amazing people because of it! Â
My one piece of advice to people who are even slightly thinking about studying abroad is DO IT! Â You will not regret it.
You can fill out an application to study abroad for this summer semester by February 1st. It’s not too late!