“But once in a while the odd thing happens,
Once in a while the dream comes true,
And the whole pattern of life is altered,
Once in a while the moon turns blue.”
~ W. H. Auden
Studying and living in South Korea was a once in a lifetime experience that will continue to shape my academic and personal trajectory for many years to come. From an academic standpoint, I enrolled in courses that were challenging and helped me grow into a more resilient student, capable of pushing through feelings of doubt and discomfort. From a professional standpoint, I learned key technical and interpersonal skills that will help me in numerous work environments. Most importantly, studying abroad was a transformative experiences in terms of personal growth, as it allowed me to redefine and reaffirm many of my values and beliefs. Through the successes and missteps, I learned so much about the person I am and the person I want to become. What is more, experiencing a new way of living expanded my worldview and new perspectives now inform the decisions I make back home. Beyond all the learning, I thoroughly enjoyed the many new experiences, friendships, and memories I made. Studying abroad was like an emotional rollercoaster. I cried. I was scared. But, above all, I laughed. I was able to experience amazing food, meet many of my favorite artists, and form friendships that will last a lifetime. My study abroad experience was so much more than I could have ever hoped for.
Writing this, a few weeks after my return, it is funny how often we don’t realize how much an experience changes us until we look back and reflect on everything we did. I acknowledge that I was able to embark on this adventure of a lifetime thanks to the help and support of an uncountable number of people. Thank you to my family who supported my decision to study abroad. Thank you to the professors who guided me and supported my academic goals. Most of all, thank you to everybody who helped fund my study abroad experience and allowed me to live one of the most beautiful and transformative periods in my undergraduate career. Moving forward, I will continue working towards attending a graduate program that incorporates statistics and data science. Moreover, I will strive to foster international collaborations in my future research career. Most importantly, I hope to promote study abroad and international experiences with as many people in my community. All in all, I will forever fondly remember the time in my youth when I studied abroad. It was a period of growth, friendships, and joy. I am grateful and am excited to see what the future holds.