My time in Strasbourg and Paris has come to an end, and I am incredibly grateful for all the memories, experiences, friendships, and life lessons I’ve gained along the way. Before this journey, I had never traveled to Europe or anywhere outside the United States, and I did not know anyone going on the trip. As someone who is naturally shy, stepping out of my comfort zone and taking the initiative to talk to new people was one of the first and biggest challenges I faced. I am so grateful and will forever cherish the new friendships from this trip and am glad I was able to grow and develop confidence.
Studying abroad also taught me how important it is to let go of the need for perfection and to embrace unpredictability. Travel rarely goes exactly as planned. One moment that stands out was sprinting through the train station in Basel, hauling our backpacks from platform 5 to platform 33 in just four minutes. It was stressful, but it gave me a new sense of confidence. I learned that sometimes you just have to go for it, even when the odds feel stacked against you.
Another key lesson was the importance of flexibility. Travel plans shift, trains run late, and sometimes things fall through. Rather than letting these moments bring us down, we learned to adjust, stay positive, and keep moving forward. Despite stress and sleep deprivation, I also learned to be present and truly appreciate each moment. These were once-in-a-lifetime experiences I was able to enjoy and share with fellow Aggies, and I learned to take in every moment and not to take anything for granted. In the end, I am so grateful for these memories, friendships, personal growth, and life experiences. If you ever get the chance to study abroad, I would highly recommend it since it is a unique experience that is both exciting and incredibly rewarding.
