One of the most life-altering and significant experiences of my life has been, and still is, studying abroad. It has changed the way I look at family and friends, about my responsibilities and in general my views on the world and life. This is really not an exaggeration: leaving the familiar and the comfortable behind to start over in a new and unknownplace is obviously scary as hell and very exciting at the same time, but you can learn so much from it that it'd be safe to say you won't be the same person once you come back.
However the experience unfolds for you, here are a few things that'll happen:
- You will re-evaluate your relationships with friends and loved ones because of the distance. Some people will stay in contact with you and some won't, but most importantly you will understand who you really care about. This is a blessing in disguise, for it won't be easy to accept at first, but you'll end up wiser because of it.
- You will become a responsible and independent adult, taking care of yourself and your needs without the help of your parents or any one who would usually do things for you.
- You'll meet amazing people who will enrich your life and broaden your horizon, challenge your opinions and teach you the craziest things. They'll show you places you never would have imagined and most importantly expose you to your true self.
- You will sometimes feel lonely and homesick, and that's ok. There is no shame in missing those who are waiting for you at home, and you will appreciate them more once you get to see them again.
- You will get to start over and be the best version of yourself. Nobody knows your past mistakes and the person you were at home, so you'll get to be a different person entirely if you want to. Make sure it is the coolest identity you can think of!
- You will figure out what your true aspirations and desires are. Like that moment before the flip of a coin where you finally figure out what it was that you really wanted, studying abroad is a catalyst for getting to the core of who you are and what you need from life, away from the opinions of your beloved ones and your habits, without excessive luxuries and someone pushing you toward a set destination.
- You will become a pro at scheduling your daily routine, whether it is when to Skype with your family and friends, or just optimizing your everyday efforts so you don't forget things/make the most of your time abroad.
- You will get to focus on your interests and passions, and even discover new ones.
- You'll get to taste new food, possibly learn how to cook it, disover traditions you hadn't heard of, see beautiful places, get lost, find yourself again, and finally have an amazing story to enrich your existence.
PS: feel free to send in questions for our advice column to TheOdysseyatPratt@gmail.com
