I have always really loved to travel. My parents have taken me on lots of vacations around the United States since I was little because they wanted to show me that I could go anywhere I wanted. For as long as I can remember, I knew that I wanted to study abroad in college. About midway through high school, I decided that I wanted to study in the United Kingdom.
After graduating high school, I started out at one university and then transferred to another after two years. Because of this, I thought I had missed my chance, since I was worried that a semester abroad would set me back.
However, this year, I found the opportunity to spend the summer taking classes in Scotland. I'm taking courses that will help me earn my degree, and I'm even doing an international internship. Because of all this, I'm going to be able to graduate a semester ahead of schedule. Of course, study abroad programs are very expensive, but in my opinion, it's worth every cent of the cost.
In my life, I probably will never get such an opportunity again. Sure, I can always travel on my own as an adult, but that can be hard to manage. Upon leaving college, I'll get a job. I'll probably be working at a company for a while before I can get a lot of vacation time. By that time, I'm probably going to be paying for a house, kids, a car, and whatever else. Growing up happens really fast, and it can be hard to fit in these kinds of trips.
Also, it is such a fantastic experience to immerse myself in another country's culture and learn about the world firsthand. I can't wait to meet people from other countries and experience life in a place so different from home. It is so important to be able to adjust to new situations and communicate with people from completely different cultures.
I'm lucky enough to attend a university where study abroad is made available to as many students as possible. At the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, a quarter of the students study abroad in almost fifty countries. Obviously that speaks to how important study abroad programs are.
People keep asking me if I think the trip is worth the money, or if going on this trip is really going to help me that much in the long run. I really think that I have so much to gain from this study abroad experience, and I cannot wait to see where this trip takes me.
