I had the opportunity to spend the fall semester of my junior year studying in Seville, Spain. As you might guess, my few months spent abroad were, without a doubt, the best and most rewarding of my life. Now that I have returned to the States, I am a firm believer that everyone should jump on the opportunity to study abroad, and that there is, indeed, something to gain for every single person that chooses to do so. I have compiled this very short (but insightful) list of reasons as to why everyone should consider, if not choose, to take a semester away from the comforts of American college life and embark on a few months in a place that is totally foreign. These points come from not only my own experiences, but those around me who have chosen to go abroad, and you will notice that each encompasses much more than just what is written. So read between the lines, and consider deeply the possibility of a semester that will not, when you look back in the years following, simply blend into the others.

1. You will truly be, for the first time in your life, pushed outside of your comfort zone.

Whether you want to accept this leading up to your time abroad, or simply assume that you will make out without a single bump in the road, you will soon find that living, studying, and becoming completely immersed in a country (or continent) different than the one you've known all your life will put you in situations completely different from anything you've ever known. You will get lost and need to ask for directions. You will do and say things that make you stick out as a foreigner among the natives. You will experience things that make you feel as if you do not belong, but you will also find ways to reconcile with them and learn to accept the differences between cultures.

All of these things will force you to become more aware of the world around you and how things are done in a place that is not your own. More importantly, you will find that the statement, “You can only grow outside of your comfort zone," does, in fact, hold water. Looking back at your experiences once the semester has completed, you will most certainly recognize how you have grown as a person.

2. You will meet people who will leave a lasting impact on your life, if not become lifelong friends and acquaintances.

Regardless of who you come into contact with throughout your time abroad, be it your homestay family, professors, or other students in study abroad programs (your own or those of separate universities or institutions) you will recognize that everyone has one thing in common: a desire to partake in something new, at the core of which is adventure and growth.

Spending a semester overseas has a reputation for not being as academically rigorous as one here in the States; however, you would be hard pressed to find a person who is planning to study abroad simply because it's “a joke." Let people say what they will -- every single person involved with the process wants to be engaged, in some way, by new experiences. However, considering what drives professors, families, and other students to become a part of the experience that is studying abroad will help you recognize that the world is made up of more than just paychecks, compensation, or a desire to drink at an age not yet legal back home.

There must be something more that exists -- a desire to help and become part of a learning process -- because studying abroad and all of its components are not a one-way street. Just as these people will affect you through their lives and actions, you will affect them, as well. Yes, the relationships you establish will be born of the fact that you chose to study abroad. The substance, however, will speak to the choices you make while there and the underlying sense of appreciation for what you are truly experiencing.

3. Until you have gone the distance, you will never know what you are truly made of.

Throughout your time abroad, you will find yourself trying things that you never would have even thought of a few weeks prior. Whether it's tasting a unique dish from the local cuisine, partaking in action-adventure sports, or something as simple as spontaneously buying a bus ticket for a weekend in another country, you will find yourself reinvigorated, each and every day, to do something you have never done before. Find someone who has studied abroad and claims they didn't try anything new and I'll call you a liar.

Studying abroad is meant to be a time for learning outside of the classroom. It's meant to help you discover the quirks of different cultures and habits of people all over the world, and most importantly, it's meant for you to discover what you are truly made of. You won't be in a position where you can jump in your car and head home for a weekend after a rough week. It is not a two-hour car ride, or even a few hours on a plane for Mom and Dad to come spend a day or two and make sure you are feeling alright.

The relationships you make will be able to support you in their own unique ways and, hopefully, serve to fill the space of what you miss about being surrounded by familiarity. However, understand that some of the comforts and luxuries of being “home" will cease to be for the time you are abroad. Nobody will be there to hold your hand, nobody will make your decisions for you.

You have fifteen weeks with which to do whatever you want -- make the most of it. Let the idea of being abroad encourage you to try new things. Don't be afraid to embarrass yourself. Make a point of diving head first into anything that scares you. When you look back, make sure you can smile and appreciate the ways in which you have grown and all that you've learned about yourself.

So there you have it. Study abroad. You won't regret it. And don't forget to thank me afterwards.