For as long as I can remember I have wanted to travel to places around the world I could only dream of. As a young girl I longed to go to Hawaii, and once that dream can true, I had my sights set on England and Europe. Next semester, I will embark on the greatest experience of my life: a semester in London.

When I was applying to study abroad one of the essay questions was why is this something you are interested in doing and how do you think you can learn from this experience. Basically, those who were reading my essay were asking me to put into words one of the greatest desires of my life.

As I responded to the question, I began to understand how life changing this next semester will be for me. Not only will I truly be on my own, living in a foreign country with 29 or so other Binghamton students who I don't know, but I will be experiencing a different culture, and will have the opportunity to travel from London to European countries.

I think this next semester will truly push me out of the comfort zone in which I have been living my life, but also will give me the chance to live outside of the community that I have been raised it. This semester will not only allow me to fully immerse myself within a different way of life, but also bring about an understanding that every culture is different but also beautiful in its own way.

I think everyone should take the same chance I am, and find a time, a place, and a way to study abroad in a country of their choosing. Yes, the thought of sending your child or loved one so far away is daunting, but it is also daunting for them. To grow as a person you must look at all cultures, accept all, and learn from them. You don't have to agree with all of the different things you will see around this wide and beautiful world, but you must experience them to truly find yourself.

Some may be afraid to travel, to go out of the life that they have created for themselves, but studying abroad, for no matter how long, is a once in a lifetime experience; one I am very glad to have the opportunity to take part in and encourage all to do.

Though I have not embarked on my own journey just yet, I know that the experience will be all that I have dreamed of and all that I will make of it. After all, I will never to do something as amazing as this again in my life. Seize the moment, and live of an explorer, a traveler. You only live once, so you must make the most of the life you are given and experience all this world has to offer.