Benefits of Study Abroad
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Traveling Abroad Helped Me Find Myself, And It Can Do The Same For You

You never know until you go.

73
Traveling Abroad Helped Me Find Myself, And It Can Do The Same For You
Brittany Sidorenko

I always knew that I wanted to get out of the United States. My trip to Europe during my senior year could not have come at a better time in my life. I had found myself stuck in a high school rut. I was constantly surrounded by the same people, every day, and I was having the same conversations and hearing the same drama over and over again. Everything had pretty much become monotonous, and I found myself wondering what else was out there. I knew that I needed a breath of fresh air. What I didn't know, however, was that all I needed was a little bit of perspective.

Now, I'm not talking about the kind of perspective that being 10,000 feet in the air on an airplane gives you (of course, the views were spectacular). I'm talking about the kind of perspective that you gain by getting out of your comfort zone and flying to a foreign country with classmates that you might not normally talk to. Being so far away from the world that I knew and totally immersing myself in another culture for a week was so therapeutic and eye-opening. I learned the different lifestyles aside from that of American high schoolers, tried countless new foods, and saw breathtaking views that I still have set as my laptop background over a year later.

Most importantly, however, I learned that my petty high school problems were so small in the grand scheme of things. I accepted that the calculus test I didn't do so hot on wouldn't matter in a year. That boy that I thought was the center of my world, suddenly wasn't anymore. Realizations like that were so pivotal in my mental growth. After everything that I had endured in high school, it was so refreshing to know that there were so many opportunities in the world. There were so many people to meet and places to see. I don't think that I would be the person I am today or be in the same mental state that I am in today if I hadn't taken the leap and gone abroad.

So, my advice to you is simple: Go. Go on that school trip. Go on that cruise. Or start small and go on that camping trip that your dad has been begging you to join in on. No matter how small it may seem, anything that puts you out of your comfort zone and into a new experience will be immensely worth it in the long run. Gaining perspective may help you with whatever problems that you're enduring and help you see that maybe, they aren't as world-crushing as you thought. Maybe, just maybe, you will learn a little something about yourself. You never know until you go.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51195
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32806
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955899
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180885
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments