Living in one place all my life, life seemed pretty predictable and I tended toward retreating in my shell and accepting my way of life here in America. I accepted who I was, I stayed in my comfort zone, and that was the girl who went with the flow and never really found her own voice. I was the girl who was afraid to speak up when I was mistreated, and instead I let my parents or my friends do the talking for me. I didn't think this part of me could be subject to change, but after living across the Atlantic for four months I have come back not remembering how I let my life be controlled by others.

I studied in Ireland for a semester and even though they speak English, communication was still challenging. Sayings were different and accents hard to understand. In loud restaurants sometimes the waiter would not understand you at all because of your American accent mixed with the noise. This taught me how to speak up. When my friends would retreat out of fear of not being understood, I spoke loud and calmly while being assertive and polite and that communication worked. I used to speak softly and apologetically to people like waiters at restaurants, or clerks in stores out of fear of being rude, but I know now, it's OK to be assertive. Whether it be in a restaurant, on a bus, at school, at a McDonald's in Berlin, or just around town, I found that it's OK to speak your mind, calmly correct others and mean what you say as long as you're polite.

I learned from my travels around other places in Europe that it's OK to ask questions, and that, in fact, things turn out so much better when you do. My mindset used to be that I didn't want to bother anyone, especially as a tourist that didn't speak the language. However, after I got lost in London and in Paris I realized that just asking someone for directions can make your whole day easier. Asking someone on the bus or in a store where a good restaurant is or where there are fun things to do totally makes a difference in one's traveling experience. Once I let go of my fear of sounding dumb or bothering someone I was finally able to experience the world the way it is supposed to be experienced.

Toward the end of my experience abroad I had absolutely no fear traveling or being by myself. I'm confident that if I'm ever confused or lost I now have the courage to calmly get myself out of that situation. Whether it be asking a question to a stranger on the street in Switzerland, or learning how to get the information I need to ride the train in France, in four months I came to realize that my future and my experiences are completely in my hands.

I carry with me back home a new found communicative technique, I get involved in conversations, and I speak my mind. I smile more and I am able to participate and ask questions in class, with no fear or worry. I am thankful that studying abroad showed me that I can stop worrying about being awkward and I can use my voice, because in the end my learning and my experiences will benefit.

Stepping outside my comfort zone was the best thing I could have done for myself. I became the person I want to be portrayed as to others and above all, without a comfort zone I see myself with no limits.