As this semester and my sophomore year draws to a close, there is only one thing on my mind: studying abroad in London for the fall semester of next year. Although it's upsetting I won't be studying at Rose Hill for the next semester and seeing many of my friends and family for a few months, next semester has the potential to be one of the most formative experiences of my life.

Ever since I was in high school, my dream was to study abroad in London and travel all around Europe. London is the perfect spot for me to be based in while I am in Europe. Being an avid fan of Chelsea FC, a West London soccer club, I will be in the prime place to not only watch soccer on a weekly basis but also feel what it is like to have my favorite team be local to me for four months. One of the aspects of being in London that I am looking forward to is being able to talk to nearly anyone about soccer, which is something that is severely lacking at home.

Another perk of being in London is the accessibility to travel to other parts of Europe. During my time abroad, I would like to get to as many cities as possible. Getting to explore Europe for a few months with limited responsibilities during college is something that has the potential to be some of the best times of your life. Along with visiting many of the major European cities, I am intrigued by some of the smaller and less known cities that I plan on visiting. Finding the hidden gems of a country is crucial to getting the full picture of what life is like in different places around the world.

Gaining a new sense of independence that is different from being at Fordham is one of the key takeaways that I hope happens to me while I am away. Learning the ins and outs of New York City when I came to Fordham was one thing, but going to Europe and figuring out how to travel, plan trips and be entirely independent will be a totally different experience. Additionally, many of the places I travel to will have a language barrier that I will have to overcome. Yet, I am more than excited to face these challenges as it is an integral part of learning while abroad.

All in all, I can't wait to be immersed into a totally different lifestyle than what I have been accustomed to my whole life. Although I have been fortunate enough to travel to many places around the world already, going to Europe to actually live and study there for a long period of time is a feature of my college experience that I know will prove to be memorable for the rest of my days.