After returning, all I really want to do is go study abroad again. It was such a fun and rewarding experience and really opened my eyes to a lot of things. I feel like I am more certain of my career path and what I want to do. I am currently an Accounting major, but visiting these international businesses has made me want to potentially follow that as an academic and professional career path. This could mean actually living abroad and working or travelling as a part of my work while living in the US. I also feel more grounded in reality than before. Seeing firsthand how big the world is puts my life into perspective and had made me understand what truly matters in my life and that some issues I face aren’t the end of the world or as big a deal as I thought. Studying abroad also makes me want to see more of the world and explore what else is out there, especially since it is so different from where I am now.
For me, I think it was easy for me to acclimate to Panama and then reacclimate to the US once I got back, especially since we were only there one week. I miss a lot of thing though: the prices, the fruit, the food, and especially the weather. It was hot at some points, but most of the time it was very nice out. One thing I believe this trip did very well was placing us in unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations and us having to adapt to them. This is something I tried to embrace, as one of my goals for the trip was to become okay being uncomfortable. I believe that this trip helped me achieve this goal, and in the future I’ll be more willing to put myself out there and pursue more opportunities. The business visits really helped with this, as I thought they would be intimidating environments but in reality everyone was very kind and welcoming. This helped put me at ease in a situation I thought I’d be uncomfortable in but wasn’t.
Before I left, I wish I knew not to bring as much stuff with me. I didn’t end up wearing all of the clothes I brought. Also, make sure to pack some necessities in your carry on just in case your luggage is delayed like mine was. My advice is to bring an open mind, try as many new or different things that you can, and try and get out of your comfort zone. Studying abroad is such a rewarding and valuable experience that I believe anyone who can needs to try to. It contributes so much to your personal and professional growth as well as your character. It helps a lot with networking, building interpersonal skills, and contributing to your independence. I want to try and study abroad again as much as I can! The experience is made all the better when you have a great group and faculty team going alongside you. I encourage anyone who can to try and study abroad.
