What exactly does it mean to say that something changed your life? To me, it means that, after that “something” took place, you were no longer the same person you were before; you had grown into a better version of yourself. That is exactly what studying abroad did for me. I had the privilege of being in the first ever group to participate in USM’s Chateau Program. Before this, I had never stepped foot out of the country (I guess you could say that I jumped right in the deep end). My family was nervous (and so was I), but in no way did I let that get in the way of something I’d dreamed of forever. While I spent most of my three months in France, I also had the privilege of visiting almost ten other countries as well. I rode carnival rides in the city square of Amsterdam. I saw the play Peter Pan in London in the park where it was written. I rode a gondola down the canals of Venice. I visited a concentration camp after taking a whole class devoted to the Holocaust. I had the immense privilege of standing on Omaha Beach, where so many brave men gave their lives for the freedom that our country stands for. I lived in a castle for three months. I learned so much about the world, and I became so much more independent through my experiences. If anyone who’s reading this has the slightest interest in studying abroad, do it. I know I’m already looking for my next chance to do so.
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EuropeFind stories from students who studied abroad in Europe. These locations range from England, France to Spain.
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