Deadlines are approaching for summer internships, and jobs are filling up at the blink of an eye. As you dwell on what you might do this summer or next semester, consider studying abroad. I cannot say from personal experience that studying abroad is an incredible opportunity, however I have many friends who have had the pleasure of studying outside of the United States. One of those friends happens to be Natalie Hamilton, who studied abroad, and also worked an internship in London this past fall. I decided to ask her a few questions about her journey in order to soothe the concerns of those interested in traveling abroad.

What advice would you give to those studying abroad?

I think a lot of people don’t go abroad because they are worried about having the confidence to do it. I had never really been outside of the country, and I remember getting off the plane and having to just take a big breath and think to myself, “I can do this.” I believe that people studying abroad just have to accept the incredible amount of nerves, but also realize that everyone traveling with you is in the exact same boat. All the people in my group were loving, and open to everyone, which made it an incredible experience.

How hard was it being away from Oxford?

Honestly, it wasn’t that hard. My friends did an incredible job of keeping me updated on what was going on in their lives, and I felt so included in what was going on with Oxford. I was busy, they were busy, but we maintained our friendships. It did really suck when I wasn’t there to watch us beat Bama, and that’s an experience I wish I had.

What is one of your fondest memories?

When I was in Paris, I decided to walk up the Eiffel Tower. It’s a lot of stairs, and a lot of panting occurred, but I wanted the bragging rights of saying that I walked up the Eiffel Tower. I and the few people who walked with me actually beat the kids taking the elevator because the line was so long, so I had a little moment to myself to just take in the immensity of the city, and cherish it.

Do you have any regrets about studying abroad?

I can confidently say that I lived my life to the absolute fullest. I cannot describe the relationships that I built, and also the things that I saw. I fell in love with cities and people, and built irreplaceable relationships. I loved London so much, but also I wish that I had traveled more. It was hard because I wanted to stay in London because there was so much to see, but I also wish that I were there for longer, so I could have more travel time.

Where was your favorite place you traveled to while abroad?

I went to Oktoberfest, Paris twice, Dublin, and traveled throughout Greece. I think all of these places were so different, and it is hard to pick a favorite. I rode a donkey in Greece, wore a drindle at Oktoberfest, and visited incredible sights in Paris. I think my favorite trip was Dublin because I had such a fun group with me, and the Cliffs of Moher was my favorite sight to see.

Describe your internship.

While in London, I was a skincare marketing intern for Elizabeth Arden. At first, I was really overwhelmed with how demanding the internship was, and how corporate I had to be. It only got better with time, and I got to sit-in on international meetings, attend pitch meetings for Harrods, and be apart of a funny and ridiculous team. I am so appreciative of this internship because I built so many connections, and had stories to share everyday after work.

Hamilton  is a representative for the CAPA Study Abroad Program with Imperial College.

Please feel free to contact her about her experiences, or if you have questions about a future trip of your own, email her at nahamilt@go.olemiss.edu.