Coming to The University of Alabama, I was certain of a lot of things. I would come to experience some of which would come to fruition after my first year and some of which I would still have to look forward to. One of the only things I never saw coming was the fact that I would be in an airport at this very moment, writing a blog, waiting to spend a month traveling to Venice, Trento, Munich, Innsbruck, and Ljubljana; the journey of a lifetime.
Studying Abroad never seemed like an option for me; not that I couldn’t achieve the goal of raising money or getting the grades, but it just didn’t seem like it suited me personally to go abroad with my university. Studying abroad seemed like something that happened in the movies or for people who really had nothing else going on. As an engineering major, somehow, I found my way on a trip for engineers… And I didn’t even know engineers had study abroad trips.
I’d say that if you’re someone, who finds it difficult to take leaps and get out of your comfort zone, just do that thing that is exciting and new. Put your doubts in the backseat for a second and realize no matter how good or bad the experience you did something new. You can now continue your life from there knowing more about yourself than you would have if you stayed in your comfort zone. For me, all it took was one friend, who had been abroad, and parents, who pushed me (thanks mom and dad), putting me here some 7 months later waiting to depart for Venice. If you think you’re not ready, you will inch closer and closer to being ready along the way. It just takes that initial action of saying, “Yes.” I have to say I have had my share of doubts and been plenty nervous, but I am now so glad that I made the decision to study abroad. I’m excited to see what awaits in Europe.