“It always seems impossible until it’s done” – Nelson Mandela
Even after submitting all of my papers, packing my bags, being thrown a going home party, and making my way to the airport, I still can’t believe it’s all over. Three months literally flew by and I’m amazed at all that I accomplished in such a short period of time.
This study abroad opportunity definitely has to be one of the most memorable, insightful, and challenging experiences in my life. As I sit in the airport waiting to board my flight, a list of questions are running through my head like…What was my most memorable moment? I don’t have a single moment. I will never forget pulling up to the Foundation House in Kensington and thinking, “Wow, this is my new home”. I will never forget my first Afternoon Tea. No matter how much I try to forget, I will always remember the various struggles my roommate and I endured to get, to and from Switzerland. What did I learn? I learned that I am able to adapt to a new environment much better than I expected. I learned that the cultural differences are significant but at the same time, they are also insignificant. The day we all go about achieving different things may vary but usually the end goal is the same, and as a result we are all more similar than we may think.
Any regrets? I’ve asked myself this question a few times trying to figure out if there was anything I wish I had done or gone to see, and I can honestly say that I have no regrets. And if there is anything that I missed in London, I know that I will be visiting London in the future, so I’m not too worried. Last minute advice? My last words of advice to those who are considering studying abroad is that it is possible. Do not withhold yourself from an opportunity like this because it’s expensive, or it is not something that you can imagine yourself doing, because I was almost that person. As a first generation college student, I developed a sense of tunnel vision that graduating as a registered nurse should be one and only goal. But study abroad provided me with a better understanding of international healthcare, along with broadening my global perspective. If you have ever had the slightest thought of studying abroad, then you owe it to yourself to at least try.
Three months, four countries, seven essays, countless cups of tea , and one amazing roommate later, and that’s a wrap! Thank you all for reading about my experiences and being apart of my study abroad journey!
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