For months, all I heard was about Fort Lauderdale and how excited everyone is to be on the beach with all their brother's and sister's and how much fun it will be. For the longest time, I believed I was going until I received an e-mail through the leadership program at my university offering an alternate Spring Break in Maynooth, Ireland. I sent it to my parents, and before I knew it, my deposit was paid and had signed up for the class!
As stated before, this class was through the Leadership studies minor. I thought that this minor would go perfect with my major, as well as help educate me on what a true leader is. I always found leadership hard to define and comprehend, but taking the course has helped me immensely become a better leader, as well as define it.
Truthfully, I hate the beach so there was another excuse for not wanting to go to Fort Lauderdale, but I did not want to stay home on break. And being able to say that I was going to Europe for Spring Break just sounds too cool right? Right. And I understand that being in Fort Lauderdale is amazing because you're able to hang out with all of your friends on a beach, but isn't that just like a normal frat party with a theme?
My older sister studied abroad three times while at her university, and she learned so much more than just in a traditional classroom environment. She went to Spain, Ireland, and China and had the most incredible time there with all of her classmates and sorority sisters that were selected to go. I wanted to be able to expierence that element of college that she embraced. Before the class even began, one of my super close friends, Grace announced that she was going on the trip too and that just made it even more fun!
My class was filled with many different people, attitudes, and backgrounds. We had fraternity brother's, sorority sister's, a foreign exchange student, you name it; we probably had it. I was particularly nervous that I would not like many of the other students that would be going on the trip with me, but they were all so personable and we found out either in class or on the trip, that we are all very much alike each other!
My time in Ireland was astounding. I was able to view the most breathtaking landscapes, experience a unique culture, and was able to do this during my freshman year of college. I believe that everyone should study abroad just once during their collegiate career because of the amazing opportunities one is given. I was able to see what European culture is like, with my peers and professors. Is there anything better?
