Studying abroad is one of those experiences that you always think would be wonderful to do, but in no way expect to actually happen in your lifetime. This opportunity—and the fact that Mays encourages its students to take it—is truly a blessing. I was able to live in a completely different country for a month, traveling with fellow Aggies who quickly became some of my closest friends. That is impactful in and of itself, but I can also confidently say that I have grown so much over the past four weeks.
I learned that I am resilient and can calmly approach the inevitable challenges that come with traveling. For example, one of our trains was delayed by 30 minutes, causing us to miss our transportation back to Strasbourg, France. My friends and I didn’t know where to start in handling this unexpected situation—especially being in an entirely different country—but I was able to collect the group and logically work our way through a solution. Leading with a sound mind is a skill I’ve always had, but in this moment of real stress and pressure, it was especially necessary.
I loved being able to visit the European Parliament and Commission. It was a cultural blend of so many languages and people. The institutions are important to each nation, but interestingly, they aren’t central to any one nationality. The countries rely on the EU to lead globally and unite them while still maintaining their unique cultures. I watched people interact in English—a common language—but with different accents and communication styles. As silly as it sounds, it made me realize that we’re all just human. We’re all just people with different ways of going about life, shaped by the environments we were raised in.
One of the things I learned through International Business is that we’re all at least a little bit ethnocentric, focused on our own perspective from the safety of our bubbles. There’s often a subconscious judgment of how other cultures operate and handle life. As an outsider, I had to adjust to the fact that French culture was the norm—not my own. That humbled my perspective pretty quickly. I also learned not to assume that stereotypes accurately represent a culture. Instead, I’ve learned to approach every interaction and every person with a fresh, open mind.
If you even have the slightest interest in studying abroad—absolutely, 1000% do it. I can’t tell you exactly how it’ll change your life, but it definitely will. The chance to learn more about yourself and the world makes me forget any hesitation I had about saying “yes” to the trip of a lifetime. It didn’t come without its hardships, but the most growing and memorable experiences never do.
All of the people I met along the way—from Aggies to people across the world who barely spoke English—have touched my life. These interactions have shaped my perspective and sparked a deeper curiosity to better understand the world and the people who make it what it is.
