During my semester abroad, I have learned many valuable lessons that have shaped my world view. Having the opportunity to connect with people from so many different cultures and walks of life, allowed me to learn about life from a perspective different than my own. I was afforded the opportunity to make great friends from all over the world, that shared their interests with me and were just as eager to learn about mine. One of the main benefits of my experience was simply being forced to come out of my comfort zone. After three years at Texas A&M, this is not something I have really had to do since my freshman year. I have gotten into a groove with my school work, found my typical friend group, and come to know my way around College Station. So when arriving in Prague at the beginning of February, it was reminiscent of the same feeling I had when beginning my college journey in College Station, only this time much more foreign, and honestly, a little daunting. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared when I landed and realized that I was actually half way around the world, and wouldn’t be returning for the next four months. But I will forever glad that I took the chance to study in Prague. I can say that I didn’t really have many preconceived notions about the Czech Republic or Europe in general, because I had never been myself. But, I was pleasantly surprised throughout the entirety of my stay. Being able to soak in the culture and way of life of not only the Czech Republic but many surrounding countries is an experience that I will cherish for a long time to come. Additionally, the education I received through the business school was extremely valuable, as I was able to take classes that exposed me to the aspect of business through a non-American sense. I took classes such as: international trade, supply chain management, international relations, and marketing; all of which introduced me to new concepts and aspects of the business world that we as Americans are not often exposed to.
