I've been putting off writing this article for quite a while because that means that my study abroad experience is finally over, but here are a few things I learned during my 15 weeks studying abroad.
You test your limits. Being so far away from the life you've been living up until the point of studying abroad, you really test your limits and your strength. This is not to say that you're not allowed to be homesick or having major FOMO (fear of missing out), but because you're studying for an extended period of time and can't really go home, you're kind of forced to make the best of it- even when it's not your best day. Keeping in check with the things you like doing (the little things) will keep you on track. My go-to's: Netflix, Journal Writing, & Reading.
You learn how important alone time is. I was lucky enough to study with all of my friends, but even then we remembered how important being alone once in a while was. There was no shame if you just wanted to be by yourself and reflect on life/take time to relax. Sometimes, watching your favorite moving can get you out of the dumps.
You learn communication skills. Other than working out the time difference of home and wherever you are, you literally have to learn to communicate with people. Even when talking to British/Scottish people, there's still weird language barriers you have to get over. Let alone when I went to Paris and Spain- but that was a whole other obvious story of literally speaking different languages.
You swallow your pride. When being away for so long, you either learn to fit in, or you stand out. You get over whatever your daily life means at home and just adapt to the world you've immersed yourself in. You can't try to change the culture you're living in because you're the one invading it in the first place. In order to open yourself up to being cultured, you have to let yourself be susceptible to the world you're living in. If you don't acknowledge the differences, you don't get the full benefit of being abroad. It's as simple as that.
Your style changes. You look at the people around you and really get a difference sense of fashion. To be honest, anything goes in Europe- so if you're going to try anything crazy stylistically, do it there. I learned to tone down my normal style, but incorporated things from all the different places I went to on a daily basis.
You learn how to love new foods. This is not to say that I didn't miss the Chinese food, Taco Bell, and literally everything else under the sun- but I learned to like the different foods. Once in a while, we all wanted some Dominoes Pizza and some McDonalds to kind of remind us of home, but everything was so different you just get used to it.
and lastly,
You really learn who you are. As corny as it sounds, studying abroad really helps you get down to the core of what you really want in life and you motivate yourself to achieve it. It keeps you in check with your hopes and dreams and really gives you a reality check on what you take for granted every day. I would suggest to literally everyone I know that they should study abroad. Even people that I don't get along with or people that don't have the same morals as me can benefit from this experience. Everyone always asks me how I liked it, but all I can really say is That I loved it, because I can't even put into words all of the things that it's taught me. Since being home for a little over a week, I've already been told "you're different" and I would like to think it's in a good way. Studying abroad really changes you as a person, it helps you grow up. In every single way possible.