Studying abroad is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that not everyone gets. It teaches you a lot about yourself, the world, and those around you. The four months that I spent in London were the best four months of my life, and I would give anything to go back.
Here are some reasons why it was both the best and worst thing to happen to me.
It was the best because…
1. I got to live in a European city for four months.
2. I got to travel all over Europe--seven countries and endless cities in four short months.
3. I met other international students from all over the world.
4. I had three-day weekends, every single weekend.
5. I was legal to drink alcohol.
6. I got to learn firsthand about other cultures.
7. I developed skills that could never be developed in a classroom.
8. I learned to appreciate other places in the world.
9. I made connections with people in different countries.
10. I became independent in a way that wouldn’t have been made possible without this experience.
11. I learned more about myself as a person.
12. I learned to value my friends and family in a different way.
13. I overcame homesickness.
14. I gained new perspectives on who and what is truly important in life.
15. I had the most unforgettable and life-changing experience and wouldn’t change a thing about it.
It was the worst because…
1. Now I’m back at a small school, in a small town.
2. I miss it every day.
3. I can’t just hop on public transportation to go exploring.
4. I can’t buy a plane ticket to Ireland for 30 Euros.
5. It is just a memory now.
6. Sometimes I feel out of place at school or home.
7. I miss it every day.
8. The adjustment to being home is much harder than the adjustment of being away.
9. I want to go back, but don’t have the funds because I spent all of my money while I was there.
10. It only happens once.
If you have the opportunity to study abroad, take it. It will change your life in so many ways. It will teach you to grow up in ways that you didn’t think were possible. It will open your eyes to the world around you and will teach you to be adventurous and take chances. It will change you as an individual, and it’ll be the most memorable experience of your life!
