They say studying abroad will change your life, and things may not be the same when you return. When I was completing the paperwork to attend Regent's University London, I greatly expected and wanted a change... but I never knew exactly how much change would happen until I got there, and boy, did that change come...
Within two weeks of my arrival, my relationship ended. Paired with the denial of emotional turmoil I didn't travel as much as I would've liked, and friends were hard to make in the beginning... to maintain the early friendships became much harder as I struggled with the waves of my ended relationship. I recognized myself becoming disassociated, and ardently focused toward my classes as the creeping hold of a growing depression took place; the man I still loved already loved another soon after our relationship ended... and I could do nothing about it.
Though I was helpless to fix things out of my control, I discovered what was in my control; school and traveling. While I wish I could've traveled on my own and seen more, the excursions which were offered through the school, was a great relief to me to urge me out of my state of numbness. With all the emotional adversity, it was on these excursions and trips I found healing and my passion for travel.
Stonehenge, Bath, Paris, Wales... to see the world even though it was only a portion of it, gave me great joy. With travel I found in myself something I didn’t know existed before...
The courage to keep moving forward.
My decision to move forward and trust that everything will be okay, opened up doors in friendships. While it was difficult to make and maintain friends at the beginning, I had (and have) the honor of gaining the friendships of some of the most amazing people I have ever met when I was in London: both who were study abroad students and residents of England. They accepted me for who I was, enjoyed my company just as I enjoyed theirs, comforted me, offered advice, watched movies with me, and even invited me to travel with them.
The phrase "studying abroad will change your life" is a valid statement, but I venture to say that the experiences/situations which are elicited from studying abroad offer an opportunity not for change (because change can be good or bad), but for growth.
The funny thing about growth is, a decision has to be made, and it doesn't end when you come home. I dare say the experiences that have happened in my life studying abroad have been nothing but needed to be the best Me I can be.
Studying abroad what painfully character building. Were it not for it, strength, determination, and fearlessness, would be character attributes which I wouldn't be able to call my own.
