On May 1st, 2026, I graduated with a B.S. degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity. 4 days later, I immediately drove to Atlanta where I would meet my classmates for the Management Information Systems (MIS) Europe Study Abroad experience in Portugal. As you can imagine, the month of May was nothing short of hectic for me with graduation and mentally preparing to go out the country for the first time. Buckle up as I walk you through my thought process of preparing for this opportunity.
March 2025 was when the idea of studying abroad became an idea that I wanted to pursue. I attended the study abroad fair where I was able to meet Jeff Lucas, the faculty representative for the MIS Study Abroad program. We conversed about the curriculum and expectations of the program, and I explained to him that I was interested in the program because no one in my family had ever been outside of the country and that I wanted to experience a different culture besides what I was comfortable with. I also was very interested with the intersection of Cybersecurity and MIS. At the time I was looking to travel on the upcoming trip in May 2025, but after talking with advisors, I realized that I would have to pay for majority of my expenses. From there I began planning for the next year to ensure I would have the best opportunity to go after graduation.
For me to study abroad, I had a lot of preparation to do. First was financial preparation. I needed to ensure that I gained as much scholarship funding as I could because I knew that paying out of pocket would not be an option. I applied to multiple scholarships, external and internal, hoping that they would help me achieve my goal of studying abroad. Thankfully enough, I was able to receive multiple scholarships which helped with majority of my expenses. From there, it was all about mentally and physically preparing for the trip.
With graduation being right before the trip, I honestly did not have much time to prepare for the trip until I got the airport. I knew that the trip was coming but did not have time to prioritize. However, I did ensure that I bought all the items that I may need on the trip (Meds, First Aid, Umbrella, Rain Jacket, etc). Once I got to the airport, the nervousness sat in and I remember my stomach turning in knots. It was going to really be the first time I travelled to another country. I couldn’t stop shaking from the anxiety associated with leaving the US, especially with all of the worldwide tension currently brewing. I took a deep breath and focused more on the fun that I will have, the foods that I will try, the people I will meet, and the things I will learn. That helped me out a lot and calmed me down. From there it was time to board the plane.
More to come…