As my sophomore year in college is slowly coming to an end, I'm currently attempting to get my life together in regards of how next year is going to look. My friends and I are all making our class schedules and looking into housing arrangements. Naturally, some of my friends are studying abroad in the fall, but a majority of them are planning to go in the spring semester. I am among the minority of people who are going to remain in the country, specifically at my campus, for the duration of next year. Everyone looks at me like I'm crazy when I tell them I'm not studying abroad, and I can understand why.
The first thought is, "What am I doing passing up such an amazing opportunity?" I'm incredibly blessed to attend a school with a travel abroad program as great as mine is. There are ample counselors who are there to help you find programs or internships that fit whatever your plan may be, as well as check to make sure credits will successfully transfer from international universities and help you with the financial end of things.
In a less nitty-gritty aspect of traveling abroad, it isn't like I've encountered people who've gone abroad and regretted it. In fact, most people go on to say it was hands down the best experience they've had. And I don't doubt them; the endless international Snapchats, Instagrams and Facebook posts make me hate the New England weather that much more.
But it isn't the program itself that is deterring me from leaving. My logic is simple: I'm already on an adventure by simply being in college, and this is a place I can only spend four short years of my life. The rest of the world is going to be there until the day I die, but college will expire. The fact that after six weekends I'll be officially half-way done with my college career makes me absolutely nauseous. I literally almost cried when I was counting the days. Personally, I want to simply explore when I travel and not have to worry about taking classes or anything like that.
I'm so happy where I am now that I can't fathom spending an entire semester away from campus. I know there are cooler, more exciting places in the world and I plan to explore them -- just not right now.
It isn't an entirely crazy thought to not travel abroad. You need to stay true to what you feel, and don't let FOMO over-influence the situation.
