No one forced me or urged me to take a leap of faith and move to Rome for five weeks for study abroad. It was one of the numerous emails in the spam section that caught my attention. “Study Abroad at John Cabot University this Summer,” it read. A few months later, I was standing on the cobblestone streets in front of my Gianicolo Residence, a stranger in a foreign city with only one friend that I made during the flight. Nicole would become my closest friend, Trastevere would be the place where I belong, and I would get to know myself in a way that I never have before. Study abroad changed my life in the most meaningful way possible and might do the same if you give it a try.

I was greeted by a foreign sense of independence. As I walked through my spacious Italian apartment, an indescribable sense of calmness and stillness occupied the place. I had a place to call my own; my two roommates thought likewise. We were not the most compatible people but we learned a great deal of swallowing our pride and getting along quite well. I did not spend much time there because, well, I was in Italy! But, living in one's own apartment, learning how to use European appliances and cooking teaches one to thrive alone in preparation for life outside college dorms and meal plans. Life outside college does not offer a set plan; it is really similar to being thrown into a foreign country. But during study abroad it is important to not too get caught up in the “abroad” experience because there is some studying involved too.

Most study abroad experiences are epitomized by not studying but instead wanderlust. I was lucky. I enrolled in a course too good to be true: “Travel Writing,” my two favorite activities. The course justified itself by being the most influential course that I might ever take. Our professor, Andrea di Robilant (a journalist and travel writer), showed us the keyhole view of travel writing that we were to explore on our own. He was rather a mentor than a professor, always encouraging us to discover ourselves in new forms through our journeys and our stories. His teaching provided us a lifetime of relevancy and narrowed my interests in journalism to travel writing specifically.

When choosing a study abroad class, one should focus on her personal interests rather than requirements because one might never get the chance to do so again. Surely taking calculus in Europe might satisfy one's home college, but is that what you want to be doing? Take a class out of your comfort zone: a language, an on-site class, or anything that pleases one's fancies. Make sure to allot for travel time as well because that’s what one wants to be doing.

Traveling will equate to cheap Ryanair flights, trains, buses and crashing in hostel rooms with 10 other people. That being said, you will be OK and will have an authentic experience filled with the best memories. Travel during study abroad is a quintessential element of a fulfilling experience. Some of my most memorable moments come from stand up paddle boarding in Positano, eating calzones in Naples, almost missing the last train from Sperlonga, eating gelato in Florence and drinking Brunello in Montalcino. These are the stories that one recounts on occasion at home. I remember places, stories, and especially, people. It is much easier to make friends abroad because everyone is hungry for adventure in a foreign land. People are the soul of a place wherever they goes. Striking conversation with baristas, vendors and strangers keeps humanity afloat without being too naïve. Smile and be friendly.

Studying abroad reveals seemingly unimportant but essential elements to one's being as well. Simply learning that one loves sunsets, gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce, morning cappuccino and rooftop terraces in a foreign city are a truly romantic way to learn about yourself. Perhaps meet the YOU that you did not know before! Abroad, one's senses are sharply awakened by the greedy desire to “take it all in,” and while it is great to take mental snapshots of places it is through the things that one perceives that one learns about one's self. I learned that I love taking early morning walks alone but I love people-watching from cozy restaurants with my friends over wine in the evenings. Little observations and life lessons comprise the entire study abroad experience.

As I sit drinking Sant'Eustachio coffee that I brought back with me, I realize that studying abroad in Rome has allowed me to experience a new form of peace within myself. An empowering kind of peace and humbling at the same time. Everything seems clear, but not quite. I know that I felt a heightened sense of me when I adventured through Italian cities only stopping to watch sunsets and so, in a sense, I am closer to being the person I want to be.

My experience was not unique- my friends had similar revelations. I cannot promise that study abroad will be the best experience ever for each individual, but I am convinced that it is an experience that you will never regret. It will shift your entire outlook on life. If you're thinking of studying abroad: DO IT! It will definitely be the most beneficial experience of your college years.

Here are some Study Abroad Resources to get you started:

John Cabot University Study Abroad: (where I attended)

CIEE: Non-profit organization promoting international education

Arcadia University Study Abroad:

http://studyabroad.arcadia.edu/

… and of course The Office of Study Abroad at your home campus!