Hello everyone! For today’s blog I’ll be writing a letter to myself from the beginning of the program. Tag along as I give my past self advice!
Dear Peter from 4 Months Ago,
First and foremost, how are you? Good I bet considering you’re just about to head to Sydney, Australia for the semester! Well before you go, let me give you some parting advice for the big journey ahead of you.
The first piece of advice I’ll give is to budget appropriately! The one thing I wish I would’ve brought with me to Sydney is more money. Now everything worked out for us in the end but we are flat broke coming home! Ironic considering we are an accounting major right! At the beginning of the semester, you should create a budget sheet and track your spending accordingly. Give yourself a spending limit for each week you’re abroad and pace yourself. 4 months is a long time to go without the ability to earn income, so spend wisely.
The second piece of advice I’ll give is to relax. Everything will be fine and you have nothing to stress over. The coursework is different, I know, but you’ll adapt. Trust in the fundamental skills you’ve developed over the course of your time at Pitt and in high school and you’ll be fine. Take the trip one day at a time and enjoy yourself. You’ve earned the chance to take a breather this semester.
The third piece of advice I’ll give is to continue your healthy habits. Cooking and exercising regularly are two things you developed as hobbies at Pitt and they’ll serve you well on the trip. Healthy habits are a great way to alleviate stress and keep you stable. Keep these up and you’ll have no trouble at all.
Finally, don’t forget to be social! I know you miss your friends and family from back home, but this is the opportunity to meet plenty of new people! The other students on the program are very nice and great to get to know. You’ll make plenty of friends during the semester and you’ll enjoy hanging out with them.
Have fun and be safe!
Sincerely,
Peter from 4 Months in the Future
Well that does it for the letter to myself in the past! I hope you found the letter enjoyable, and if you’re a prospective study abroad student then I hope you found it informative. I’ll leave you all with some photos from my recent trip to New Zealand! Until next time!
