With the ending of Susquehanna’s semester, this will be my last blog post. This blog began as a way for me to continue making money while abroad because I always feel the compulsion to be doing that. It also was a way for me to practice my creative writing skills that have fell by the wayside since leaving high school. Throughout the semester, my blog was an opportunity for my friends and family to get a glimpse into my mind and experiences from an ocean away. I have always found a voice through writing, even if it's just an unstructured thought dump. To any future study abroad students reading this that enjoy writing, strongly consider being a blogger because it was a beneficial experience for me and a very easy way for family to feel like they are being kept up to date (because it’s hard to call everyone each week).
One of the most common things I’ve been asked since coming home is “are you glad you went?”. Even though it can be hard to talk about yourself or hard to brag about something you did without any of your loved ones, the answer to that question is always easy: a quick yes. Studying abroad was a decision I agonized and overthought and worried about for over a year. Even after I had made the final decision to go, the knowledge that I was leaving and all the concerns I had sat like a dark, heavy, scary cloud over me every day and night. How could something so amazing have haunted me so greatly? Overall, one of my biggest anxieties was that my leaving was going to change things at home and I wasn’t ready for that. Whether I was thinking about my relationship, my personality, my family, or outlook on the world, the thought of the consequences of undertaking such a big change was incredibly scary. And now, looking back on those anxieties, I do have sympathy for that version of myself. However, I also am sad for her because so many hours were wasted agonizing when, of course, I turned out to be wrong! That isn’t to say that nothing has changed because I am personally changed forever, my memories and self-confidence and much more. However at the same time, my roots are still firmly planted; I was not ripped away from the comforts of my life never to return to happiness again. My relationship made it through to the other end better than ever and everyone I loved still held that love. So, after all those anxieties and hours spent wondering if I was doing the right thing, it is a massive relief to be able to answer such an easy yes to that common question. Studying abroad is terrifying and wonderful all at once. I am not one of those people that subscribes to the idea that ‘humans should strive to always be uncomfortable because that means you’re growing’. Being uncomfortable does usually produce growth of some manner, but so can being comfortable, as long as you still push yourself to always be learning and trying and making yourself proud. Studying and living abroad is not always for everyone, but I believe it is always worth the experience and is especially only going to be as good as the effort you put into it. For me, it was a perfect method of practice for independence and seeing as much of the world as you can. Please try and see as much of the world as you can, because you also will always be able to say that yes, you’re glad you went too. Thank you for keeping up with me over this semester! Safe travels and happy holidays!
1 Comment
Keli Emmons
12/19/2021 07:47:01 pm
Hannah,
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