This summer, I have had the ‘brilliant’ opportunity to venture off overseas to study in Oxford, England. I am studying at Trinity College, a college of the prestigious and world renowned university, Oxford University. We are two-thirds of the way through the program at this point. With two weeks left to go, we're trying to fit everything in while also staying on top of our responsibilities for our classes, and getting souvenirs for our friends and families, of course. Let me just tell you, one month may seem like it would feel like a very long time. But, unfortunately, it goes by with a blink of an eye... along with the time you had to see most of what you wanted to see.

Before studying abroad, there are a couple questions you need to ask yourself:

1. Why do I want to study abroad?

2. Will I really immerse myself in the culture?

3. How will I take this experience and make it worth my while?

Studying abroad, whether it's for six weeks or six months, is a big commitment -- especially if it's your first time traveling internationally. You have to make sure you're going abroad for the right reasons. So, talk to your parents/guardians about it. Weigh the options and leave plenty of time to plan. Studying abroad is also an investment. It's something that either you or someone else is paying for. Why waste the experience if you're not really sure that you want to do it? Make sure it is something you want to do because, the more you want to be there, the more fun you'll have. It'll be a richer experience.

Believe it or not, the culture in England is pretty different than in America, even though we speak the same language. Making sure that you keep an open mind and trying to embrace the culture around you are both important because this will affect your experience as well. For example, the drinking culture in England is very different than in America, and being able to go to a pub and have a pint is much different than going to a club and drinking a little too much. It's also an experience that a lot of people don't get to have in America. Embrace these cultural differences. It'll have you trying new things that you never had the chance to before.

You're going to another country. How many people can say they got a chance to study in another country during their time in college? Honestly, less than it seems. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It has expense to it, but there are scholarships and grants you can seek out through financial aid. While you're in this country, think about how many other countries are around you that you want to see. Try to visit a country different from the one you're studying at as well. I chose Ireland because it is one country that I've dreamed of going to my entire life. Take the opportunity of being so close to other countries, if you can, and go somewhere you've never been/always dreamed of going to. As an added plus, you'll have experience to share with others for the rest of your life. It will give you a more worldly perspective that not everyone has back in the United States. You'll be able to stand out to employers and among your peers.

Now that you've decided to study abroad, choose somewhere you've always wanted to learn more about and think you could handle. Or, just cover your eyes and just randomly point to a country on a map. (Hey, it could work out.)

While you're studying abroad, you'll find things you never knew about yourself. Since you're away from everything that you know and love, you get this new feeling of self consciousness. You're finally alone to figure out what your next step in life will be. It also gives you a chance to step back and reevaluate what's going on in your life and where to make changes. It gives you a clear picture of what you're experiencing that you may not see at home or at school. That is something every college student should have the chance to experience. Since we're stepping into the next chapter of our lives, we need to find out what we want, what we don't and what we need to change around us. It's healthy, and since we get so caught up in the routine where we're comfortable, many of us don't get that chance to find our true selves.

This could lead to big realizations that could have possible consequences in your life back home, but don't let it ruin your experience. You're here for a new experience. Don't let the negatives of life drag you down or ruin that once in a lifetime opportunity to grow.

Until you're standing on top of a mountain at the tip of Ireland, or something to that extent, it's actually not that easy to figure it out.

You're going to get a new perspective on life and you're going to change for the better once you find your sense of peace in this foreign place. No matter where you go, it won't be hard to feel like you belong if you embrace the world as it is. Try new food. Talk to the locals. Find your favorite drink. Your favorite cafe. Find your favorite version of you. You'll be thankful for letting yourself have that experience of self reflection. Don't let that opportunity go to waste by sticking to the same old, same old routine that you have at home. Now is the time to reinvent who you want to be. Nobody really knows who or what they want to be when they grow up, but wouldn't it be nice to know that you're the best version of you that you strive to be?

So study abroad. Make new friends across the world. Find a new perspective on life, a more worldly one. It's your turn to change your life.