Studying abroad has been a dream of mine for years. During my sophomore year of high school, I remember spending countless hours researching study abroad programs and requirements. I even sat through time intensive online information sessions and started scholarship and program applications. At the time, I was pen pals with a friend doing a study-away program in Morocco, and I was captivated by the stories he recounted in his letters. He encouraged me to be persistent with my applications, and told me I would never regret an experience like studying abroad.
And then, somehow, things fell through. I would talk endlessly to friends about my dreams to live in France or Spain for a semester or year, but following through with this intention was another story. Fast forward to junior year of high school: I entered the same daunting application cycle, and yet again, abandoned my plans for adventure.
The yearning to experience life as a student in a new country was eating away at me, but something kept holding me back from pursuing the opportunities. Was it as simple as dreading all of the application details and paperwork that came with it? Was it the underlying anxiety of the possibility of feeling loneliness, homesickness, and isolation in a strange land? Was it the apprehension surrounding budgeting and extra expenses?
It was probably some combination of all of these things. And in truth, 5 years later, none of it has gotten any easier. So… what’s different this time?
Persistence.
At the beginning of September, I completed my application for Temple’s Oviedo Spring Semester program, and crossed my fingers as I waited for an acceptance email. Within a few weeks, I heard back that my application had been approved.
In October, the time had come to get all the pre-departure details in order. As time passed, new deadlines were added to the study abroad portal. There were countless things to check off the list: buying a round trip flight, creating a homestay profile, gathering all of the visa materials for the embassy… and when I thought I’d finished everything, a few more articles are added to the list. Juggling all of the particularities of preparation was overwhelming, especially while maintaining a student life. But this time, I wasn’t going to let my dream escape me.
With every day that passes, it seems less real that I will be living in a new country for my Spring semester. Although it’s frightening, I suppose you could say I’ve been mentally preparing for the idea of studying abroad since the 10th grade. As I gear up for this huge shift in my life, I’m taking the checklists one day at a time and am doing what I can to connect with others who will be making the same journey. Now my flight is just one week out, and although I still have a suitcase to pack and some last minute details to organize, I couldn’t be more thrilled about what’s to come.
Here are a few things I’ve learned while preparing for my study abroad experience:
1) Talk to friends or peers who have already gone on your program! They will have great advice for what to expect and what to pack.
2) Don’t abort your mission or procrastinate. If you want to study abroad, then follow through with your applications, gosh darn it!
3) Talk with any professors who might be going on your trip to learn more about the program and the classes.
4) Set a few goals for yourself in advance, like figuring out what you’d most like to get out of your experience.
5) Relax! Things will fall into place if you give them your best shot. And don’t worry too far in advance… you’ll cross each bridge when you come to it.
Since I’m still in the pre-departure phase myself, I guess it’s time for me to make sure I’m following my own advice… See you in a week, Spain! It’s time to realize a longtime dream.
