Let me start off by saying that choosing to study abroad was one of the best decisions I have ever made in the short time I have been alive. I really had no idea what I was doing, but I signed the forms and bought the ticket, and here I am today. I write this article from Copenhagen, Denmark. I have been living and going to school here since January, and let me tell you, I have absolutely loved my experience here and have not regretted traveling abroad for a second.

After I chose to study abroad I became aware of a subtle attitude that accompanied the idea every time it came up in conversation, one that told me exactly what to expect: beautiful cities, lots of travel, new international friends, and finding myself. After weeks of hearing the same things from people who had gone abroad, and even those who had not, I went in to my semester abroad thinking that I had to enjoy studying abroad, because that is all I ever heard about when I told people I was leaving for the semester. It was supposed to be a breeze. It was supposed to be five months of fun and cool Instagram pictures.The conversations were all the same. I would love living abroad and I would never want to come home. After living in Europe for the past five months, I can tell you that all of these things are true, and I can also tell you that it comes with challenges that people don't necessarily tell you before you leave.

So like I said, I am currently abroad, and I can truly say that I cannot imagine studying anywhere other than the beautiful city of Copenhagen. I have absolutely fallen in love with this city and I have grown immensely during my time here. However, this does not mean that I have loved every single day, and I say this because I think this is important. It is important to be open about the struggles that come with studying abroad, and some days I really struggled. Finding myself in an unfamiliar city (in my case one that speaks a completely different language) without any of the comforts of home really hit me and was tough to work through.

While studying abroad, it is completely normal to have days where all you want to do is hug your mom, pet your dog, and lay in your own bed. Living in a completely foreign country with brand new people is terrifying. One night, you lay down and it all hits you like a ton of bricks. It hits you that you are on a different continent than everyone you love. You are in a different time zone than all your favorite places that you grew so accustomed to. I found myself thinking, What the hell am I doing here? This is terrifying, but important. Believe it or not, you will wake up the next morning, and you will start your day, and you will work through all of your homesickness, doubt, fear, and anxiety. This is how you grow while living abroad. You will begin to notice the little things about your new city that you find comforting, and slowly you will begin to accept it and love it for what it is. You will realize that despite all your anxiety and fear, you are capable of overcoming those challenges in order to seize opportunities and become the person you dream of being. You are able to take advantage of the absolutely unbelievable experiences and allow them to change your life. In fact, part of the beauty of studying abroad is acknowledging the struggles, and acknowledging that you kicked their asses.

Living abroad comes with opportunities that you never thought you would have at your disposal. Traveling the world is the kind of privilege I grew up dreaming about, and still do today. It is addictive. Now that I have had a taste, I want to continue, and my list of things to see has grown even longer. I have gained the kind of experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I know that I am capable of controlling my anxiety, of embracing people from all cultures and backgrounds, of trusting my instincts, and more than capable of believing in myself wholeheartedly. Not to mention I know how to navigate an airport and public transportation system like a boss.

Studying abroad has given me more than I could have ever imagined. It's given me confidence, independence, and the skills necessary to deal with situations that don't go as planned and to appreciate them anyway. It is important to understand that growth happens when you acknowledge the tough emotions and choose to live anyway. The beauty of studying abroad is not in the places you see, the people you meet, or the things you do (although these are all wonderful and very important). It is in the person you become along the way.