When I first received the letter of acceptance into the College of Charleston, it came alongside a little blue book titled “Passport to CofC!” I was slightly confused because I was unsure what this entailed and whether or not I was truly accepted.

It turned out, I had the opportunity to study abroad the first semester and could choose the location.

This idea of studying abroad for the first semester of college has recently become the hot new trend for Colleges all over the country. It gives schools the ability to accept more freshman into the incoming class, and the cost is similar to a normal semester, if not cheaper.

Among the three options offered through the iCharleston program, I immediately was attracted to Ireland.

Studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland was one of the most enriching, and developmental experiences I have ever had. I was able to learn an extensive amount about different cultures, as well as evolve into a more responsible young adult. I was so fortunate to be able to travel on the weekends and every trip was filled with new fun activities.

Jumping all over Europe was incredibly humbling because of how fascinating it is to watch the way people live their everyday lives in different countries and environments. Some amazing places I was able to visit were Amsterdam, London, Venice, Budapest and all over Ireland. Learning and living in a brand new environment brought many wonderful memories and stories.

During my time there, I realized that happiness is chosen through your daily life and this brought new growth through patience, tolerance, and acceptance of others. Being thrown into a new country with new people and new living situations was intimidating, but every new piece was a part of the bigger picture.

Every sight I saw, and every new fact I learned, was life-changing. It expanded my pallet and I was able to add new parts to my best self. Studying abroad truly showed me that budgeting money was extremely important, as well as eating properly and exercising your body and brain is important to mindfulness in any new place you live.

Coming back into the United States for college appeared to be easy, but as I learned, it was not as simple as I thought.

When I first learned about reverse culture shock, I laughed. I could not fathom being a stranger in the very place I grew up for 19 years.

Yet, even as I reflect on the past semester, I can not stress more on how the transition from, Ireland to Charleston, went poorly.

For starters, I grew up in the suburbs of Boston, and I did not realize the massive cultural differences between the North and the South. The diversity is so far from in between, and as I quickly noticed, the people did not fit what I was anticipating as well. I would consider myself a pretty earthy crunchy type of person and I was honestly, not used to the historic and wealthy culture in Charleston.

On top of this, I made no attainable moves to open myself up to meeting new people. I slowly realized I had not made any solid new friends, and I had heavily relied on my pals from Dublin. This played a role in my own helplessness.

Additionally, I did not join any clubs because many were halfway through the year and this intimidated me. I did not have a job for the first time since freshman year of high school, and because I had been abroad, I missed the cheerleading season.

So, because in my mind I felt hopeless, I grew extremely impatient, restless and bored. The lifestyles of being abroad versus Charleston were like black and white. I had so much to do in Ireland, and the pace of life was lightning speed.

Even when I did have slow days, I would always tell myself, “You’re in Ireland!” At the College of Charleston, I felt almost stuck. Trapped. I was in desperate need to make a drastic difference. At first, this meant taking a gap year.

I was determined to “find my purpose” elsewhere. I drew up many different plans for the year ahead, including working on a cruise line, volunteering to teach Monks how to read in Sri Lanka, becoming an Au Pair in Spain.

For a little while, I was living in a utopian world where all of this made perfect sense.

Throughout the semester in Charleston, I learned a plethora of hard lessons. I realized I needed to face my struggles, and find ways to cope.

I had forgotten the patience I had learned abroad, and I challenged myself to use the skills I developed to find happiness in the little things in Charleston. I accepted and leaned in to be a little restless.

This broadened my horizons-as this semester was just one semester and temporary. This led to the decision to stay in college in Charleston and earn my degree. I reached out to my parents to talk about money and to find affordable housing for next year. I sought advice from my PAC leader and academic advisor. I was open and vulnerable to my friends at CofC, and that in itself brought relief. I simply had to find ways to motivate myself to do well, while being mindful of my own happiness. This included setting up goals. Academically and personally.

1. It’s okay to be restless!

Just as long it does not envelope the entirety of your life. Be patient with your current situations and use the restlessness to make positive and impactful changes.

2. Face situations

Running away from your problems does not solve anything. Skipping class will just push 50 minutes of classroom time away, but it will not make the workload easier. Plus, it will not further your expensive education.

3. It’s okay to not make new friends right away!

Sometimes, rich and rooted friendships take time. Be fearless. As long as you put yourself out there, relationships will develop at different rates. Appreciate the close ones you do have, because they truly do care, love and support you.

4. Talk to someone!

Preferably an adult with life experience and wisdom. Whether it be a family member, a schools counseling service, a professor, or a boss. Utilize them. They want to help.

5. You do not need to have found your “purpose” in life, to set up future goals

It is scientifically proven that setting up smart goals leads to success and happiness. Reach the ones you can, be proud of your accomplishments, then set up new ones.

6. Stay busy!

Join a club, take that extra art or yoga class you’ve always wanted to do. Keep your mind and body focused and sharp.

7. Get out of your head, live in the moment, and hang in there

Moving and adjusting to any new environment can take time, but chances are, people nearby are also in the same boat as you. Don't worry, you won't be the new kid on the block for long.

All of this brought me closer to finding my best self again. From then on, I worked harder and sought guidance when I needed it.

Whether you are coming back from studying abroad, or simply moving to a new place, here is seven important pieces of advice.