Studying Abroad

There are several experiences that have influenced the way I view the world, but nothing
has been more potent than my time studying abroad last fall semester. I’ve been dreaming of
seeing the world since I was a little kid– I would imagine myself racing through temples as if I
were Indiana Jones. As I got older, the dreams I had faded away as my mind became more
fixated on logic and rationality.
Many people want to travel, but taking that leap into the unknown is intimidating,
especially when you don’t have a safety net to fall on. When I first applied to study abroad at
Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands, I wasn’t very optimistic. It was more idealized
than anything else, because making the funding logistics work seemed impossible at the start.
The convenient thing about Radboud and other partner institutions is that you actually get
to pay in-state tuition while you are studying abroad. This helped me save thousands, on top of
travel scholarships and grants I applied for. One thing I learned during this whole process of
getting there is that, as much of a cliché as it sounds, you can absolutely do anything you set
your mind to.
Once the financial logistics were sorted out, everything was a breeze, and I was ready to
take that leap. A reset and a fresh start were exactly what I needed– I had no idea what to expect
while I sat on a 6-row Delta flight to Amsterdam. Through tumbling and adapting to a new
environment, I not only learned so much about so many different cultures, but also about myself.
I was fortunate enough to make great friends from around the world. My French
roommates and I rapped about our cultures and shared deep conversations about where the world
was heading. During my time off from school, I took train rides to different countries, making
the absolute most of what little time I had. From Rome, to Pompeii, to Vienna, and Berlin– I
sampled some of the world’s most culturally rich cities and became so incredibly inspired.
Cynicism is expected in your young adulthood, especially when the weight of the world
feels so heavy. I’ve been cynical for a while now– but I left Nijmegen with a different feeling:
tenacious hope. The world, life, and people can be really cruel and unfair– but that’s what makes
all of these intricacies: the music, food, and art– so inspiring. Seeing a fresh part of the world
with my own eyes– even in its most uncertain light– lifted an adolescent weight of doubt in
humanity I once carried. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you can find a
community that cares, that creates, and connects. Even through the worst, studying abroad turned
my bitterness or callousness into a level of agency and compassion for humanity.
I would do it over and over again if I could. And if there’s any piece of advice I have if
you are interested in studying abroad, it would be to just take the leap into the unknown. I can
always make more money, but I’ll never be in my twenties again, having a ball with people from
all around the world.