I’m sure if you know anyone that has studied abroad, they automatically say, “It changed my life.” And I’m sure you think they’re being dramatic, because how could that possibly happen?

Studying abroad is like entering a new world. You hear, smell, and taste a variety of things that your normal campus doesn’t provide. Even your school's building is different, because more than likely, the building was an old palace or mansion. While walking the streets, different dialects and languages swarm your ear, and your brain begins to scatter with thoughts. These thoughts question what certain people were talking about or what is going on around the city. Studying abroad has been the most rewarding experience in my life thus far and changed me for the better.

I’ll explain exactly what I mean when I say it “changed me for the better.” The first day I went exploring around Florence, Italy it was like being thrown into the middle of a tornado. Every which way I was walking, I got lost. The most confusing part of trying to get myself around the city was the fact that the street names were engraved onto the corners of the side of the buildings. There were numerous situations where I was lost in different cities in Europe, but I was able to improve my skills in directions and how to navigate myself in unfamiliar places.

When I first started thinking about studying abroad, it was scary to think that I would go alone without any friends and travel across the ocean with strangers. It ended up being the best decision, because although we are all comfortable with our friends, experiencing this new world with new people makes for better memories. Everyone was on the same boat as me, not really knowing anyone, so it was easy to start conversations and build friendships during this time. This process has taught me to open up more and become more comfortable talking to a variety of people, whether I know them or not.

Mainly this experience has taught me to be independent. I lived more than 4,000 miles away from my home, family, and friends; that alone guided me on the track of independence. I instantly had to learn how to navigate around an unknown city, make travel arrangements to other parts of Europe, and grocery shop by myself. But those are only a few things that lead me to my independence, it was difficult at first, but eventually, I got into the swing of things. While becoming more independent, I realized that studying abroad has helped me grow up and mature into a better person.

The next time someone says that studying abroad has changed their life, think of the experiences and adventures they encountered. It may get annoying to constantly hear the stories, but remember that person spent a long time in that new world. It’s like your first semester of college. That’s all you want to talk about with people, and share fun memories. So if you haven’t studied abroad yet, I highly recommend it; it'll change your life too!