This past semester I had the opportunity to study abroad. It was an amazing learning experience. I met so many people and formed lifelong friendships. I encourage everyone to study abroad because you only get to do this while you’re in college. Contact your university’s study abroad office and see what they can do for you. There are a ton of benefits to it, but I’ll narrow it down to the top five that I experienced.

1. Exposure to other cultures.

When you arrive, you will not know anyone. It is a great way to step out of your comfort zone and engage in conversations with strangers or other students studying abroad. I remained optimistic the whole time. I knew that my time in England would be temporary and I didn’t want to regret any of it. Go to a museum. Partake in the school events, even if they aren’t your thing, you never know who you’ll meet. Do some exploring on your own.

2. Personal growth.

There’s a slim chance that you’ll return home from your study abroad experience as the same person you were when you left. You will experience reverse culture shock, as this is when you adjust to life back home. My transition was easy, but I did notice a change within myself. I felt more appreciative for my life and everything in it. I believe that it was my experiences abroad that influenced this change.

3. Long-lasting friends.

I met people from all over the world, from Canada to South Korea. Everyone was so kind and eager to get to know you. These friendships are real. You will rely on each other when homesickness occurs. Also, thanks to technology, it is easy to keep in touch on social media sites when everyone goes back home.

4. Opportunity to travel to surrounding countries.

Studying abroad in England was the best decision I could have made. I was able to travel around the United Kingdom for a fairly cheap price and all I had to do was take a coach or a train. I spent Halloween in Dublin and Thanksgiving in Bracknell. You could also take a ferry or a plane to France, Italy, or Belgium in just a few hours. The opportunities to travel are endless.

5. Education.

The purpose of going abroad was to study, but you will find that European academics aren’t as demanding as American. This gives you loads of free time to do whatever you want. Even though you won’t have many assignments due throughout the semester, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t read the supplemental articles on Blackboard or get involved in the student life on campus. I never have free time when I’m a full-time student at UNCG. I’m used to taking five or six classes, working a part-time job, and staying involved in my student organization on campus. I guess I’m used to having a busy lifestyle, so I didn’t want it to end just because I’m abroad. I ran for a student council position while I was at the University of Leicester, because I never had that experience at my home university. I was elected (woohoo!) and dedicated a lot of my time to that position. It was a great learning experience and totally unconventional for a “typical” study abroad student.

So, take on those demanding roles while you’re abroad. That might be the only chance you get.