Their culture, traditions and language are beautiful, and the people are incredibly kind.
Stepping onto the plane for the first time was overwhelming. I had never been to Europe before but I don’t regret a single moment. My worldview has expanded, and I’m more confident than ever that I’ll return someday. At first, I was nervous about navigating a new country, but learning how to use public transportation, understanding FC Barcelona culture and adjusting to an entirely new lifestyle pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best ways. Now I feel confident traveling to another continent and continuing to embrace unfamiliar experiences. When you do this, you begin to realize that many small stresses simply don’t matter. You become braver, more adaptable and more open-minded.
If you ever have the chance to study abroad, I hope you do it and I hope you love it as much as I did. A great starting point is applying for the Gilman Scholarship, which helped fund my experience. Once you're in college, I definitely recommend meeting with your advisor or professors to learn about opportunities to study abroad.
My biggest piece of advice: say yes to everything. Be open to new experiences and take the time to truly learn the city around you. I’ll never forget this journey. I had the chance to travel to France, Italy, Morocco and more which is something I still can’t believe. I tried new foods, learned what it’s like to be a student in another country and made friendships I’ll always cherish.
Thank you for following my journey in Spain!
