It has been a little over a week since I got back from my study abroad trip to London, and I miss it already. Between the incredible friends I made, and the sights I got to experience, the past six weeks were some of the best in my life. When I begin to look back at my experience, I can reflect on how I had grown throughout the trip. When I first landed in Heathrow, I was scared and nervous. I had never traveled by myself, and I was in a new country that I was not familiar with. All of this culminated in me having a very stressful and upsetting first day, between trying to use the London Underground, and being exhausted from my flight. As the first week went by, I became more accustomed to my situation. I began to memorize my different commutes, and I was taking advantage of all the different opportunities. The weeks started to fly by, and before I knew it I was packing for my flight home.
When I think about how I have grown on this trip, I think the first thing that stands out is a growth in confidence. As I had mentioned, I was incredibly nervous to start out on this trip. On top of not knowing how to get around at first, I was scared my roommate situation wouldn’t work out. The last thing I wanted was to be miserable in my flat while missing home. Luckily, I had incredible roommates who made the trip much better. Not only did I prove to myself how capable I am of navigating a massive city like London by myself, but I found myself doing things I otherwise would not have. Whether that was sight seeing, or even clubbing, this trip saw me push myself out of my comfort zone in a variety of ways, which I think has made me a better and more well-rounded person. On top of that, I think my critical thinking skills grew as a result of my internship. I found myself tackling problems and projects that I thought I wasn’t capable of doing, but instead was able to complete successfully.
When I look back on my study abroad, I hope to not only remember the good memories, but remember what made the trip so memorable. I think the key takeaway for me is going to be an increased admiration for the things around me. A lot of the joy I found in London was just going on walks around the neighborhood near me, being a spectator to my surroundings. I found a lot of comfort in looking at how the world was moving around me, and I hope to continue doing that now that I am back home. I think the other thing that I hope I continue is being a morning person, though I strongly doubt that will happen. Overall, my study abroad in London was one of the best experiences of my entire life, and it is a journey that I won’t soon forget.
