In June of this year, I returned from a semester of study abroad in Madrid, Spain. It might sound somewhat cliché, but those six months in Europe were the most transformative time of my life. Not only did I gain academic diversity by taking classes in a different country and learning from a different perspective, but also it offered an unparalleled chance for personal growth.

The day after I arrived in Spain, my aunt passed away after a four-month-long battle with cancer. This shook my world. Not only did I have to deal with the death of a loved one, but I had to do it alone. There was no support system; there was no one there who was obliged to help me. I was in a country where all I had was my host family and my program directors. After realizing this, I began to grow more than I thought I ever would. I had to find my own support system. I eventually made friends, built relationships and got an internship to keep myself busy. This would become my support system.

Now, you may be asking, what does this have to do with studying abroad? Let me explain. Having to find your way in a foreign country where you have no family is tough, but it provides a golden opportunity in that it gives one the opportunity to learn so much about oneself. I can certainly say that is what happened in my case. Studying abroad allowed me to figure out how to deal with less-than-ideal conditions and turn them into an advantage. I learned so much about myself in carving a way out of the mess that I was in. This is a crucial life skill that any successful person must learn, because life does not always go how you may plan it. Studying abroad turned into a life lesson for me.

While I certainly hope that none of you who may be reading this will have to go through something like what I did, I can assure you that studying abroad will be the best decision I ever make. During my time abroad, I did the “normal” studying abroad things. I traveled to 11 countries in those six months. I made really, really good friends who I still talk to. I exposed myself to more diversity than I could have ever imagined. In addition, I lived in one of the best cities in the world. Madrid not only has an amazing home soccer club – Real Madrid for those of you who don’t know–but it has a killer nightlife, some of the best urban parks in the world and a plethora of museums that would satisfy any lover of the arts. Studying abroad provided me with these opportunities that some only dream of.

While the benefits to studying abroad are numerous, there are still many obstacles. For example, about half of entering freshmen claim to have an interest in studying abroad, but only 1-2 percent of them actually do so throughout their college career, according to NAFSA, the Association for International Educators. There is also the concern about how studying abroad will fit into certain academic programs. Many students have reservations about how study abroad will affect their scheduled graduation date. These are all valid concerns, but they all have solutions. The University of Alabama’s Studying Abroad office is very good at answering any questions related to studying abroad. The office is located at 135 BB Comer Hall, and I encourage anybody with questions to stop by their office and they will be glad to assist you.

As for me, I work for Academic Programs International (API) while being a full-time student at the University. API is a program provider that UA students can use to pick certain study abroad programs that may fit their needs better than the programs directly offered by the University. You can contact me at [email protected] with any questions about the study abroad process here at the University that you may have.

I sincerely encourage anyone that is on the fence about study abroad to email me or stop by the studying abroad office. If you don’t know what to do about going abroad, go. It will be the best decision of your life.