In May of 2014, I traveled to Ireland for a study abroad program. Little did I know, those three short weeks would change my life. The saying “it’s a small world” is often stated.The statement is easy to believe as you grow older, because you begin to see the same things and the same people. Seeing the same sights, socializing with the same people, and feeling the same emotions every day can result in someone living their life in an nonobservant haze due to lack of new things.

I’ve spent my whole life in Lansing, Michigan. People often describe me as inquisitive and outgoing. Although, when you’ve spent countless years in the same city, it becomes easy to stop seeing the city around you. It felt like I was spending my days on autopilot, unaware of the sights to be seen because I had seen them for the majority of my life. When the opportunity arose to study abroad, it seemed too good to be true. It was a chance to see the world while studying Irish literature and mythology.

Traveling to another country was the best thing to ever happen to me. I found that the fog that has surfaced in my seemingly unexciting life had lifted, and I was finally able to see life with a new set of eyes. The culture of Ireland was much different. It seemed as though the people were not living their lives in a haze. It was easy to be exhilarated by each and every day. Each step was one I had never taken before, and another sight I had not yet gazed upon. I found myself appreciating even the smallest of things, whether it was a good cup of tea, or a glimpse of the sun setting. I was determined to live in the bliss of the unknown for as long as I could. Immersing myself into the poetry of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats was invigorating. It was as though I was living through the words of the man that had long past. It became clear to me, that although the poet was gone, his words were forever present.

When the trip was over I realized I could never go back to the person I was before. Ireland was a thing of the past, but the effect it had on my life was a thing of the future. The world is not a small place. It is huge and often humans live their lives in their own small worlds. The beauty of the unknown and the unseen caused me to lift myself from the hazy world I was previously living in. The things I have seen, and the things I have done, are only a small glimpse at the possibilities. Traveling taught me to keep my eyes wide, my heart alive, and my mind open. It is because of my study abroad trip that I am constantly trying to do things that awaken my soul in such a manner.

Having said this, I encourage others to see the world with a fresh set of eyes. I encourage you to do something no one has done before, or go somewhere you’ve never been because there is beauty in the unknown. The places you’ve traveled may be a thing of the past, but the effect it has on your soul is permanent.