Although many of us have been away from home for long periods of time, like at college (obviously), at sleep away camp, or even on three week abroad excursions, there's something about living across the world for an entire semester that spikes slight nerves.

Over the month of January, I traveled to the other side of the world to Australia to study ecotourism. I had the time of my life and went on more crazy adventures in three weeks than I ever imagined or thought possible. Although it was only three weeks, I managed to find a slight pain in my heart and mind when I thought about home and Elon. I was loving every second of Australia, but I still had the slight yearning to be home.

I've gone to sleep away camp for ten executive summers, eight weeks each time, and after the first couple of summers, I never once looked back or cried about missing home. I had no issue at all, danced merrily with my little friends and partook in every camper antic possible. But sleep away camp was just an eight-hour drive from home. Whether it be an eight-hour plane ride or a 16-hour plane ride, there's something about traveling across the world, far, far away from your family and home by both travel and time, that surfaces nerves and homesickness from your very being.

This fall, along with many of my peers, I will be traveling abroad for the semester. I will be going to Florence, Italy. While I will have familiar Elon faces in Florence, there will still be a pain in both my heart and mind about leaving some back in America. While this may be the case, I know that I am going to have an incredible time and make memories that will last a lifetime and beyond.

While you may be missing those back home, it is important to live in the moment. It is tough to say goodbye and live across the world, but just keep in mind that those three months or so abroad are going to fly by. You're going to see places you never even knew existed and you're going to go on adventures that are irreplaceable. Keep your heart full, your mind clear, and your camera charged and get ready for the experience of a lifetime.