Hello everyone! It is almost May, which means my semester in Madrid is about to end and I will head home to St. Louis, Missouri soon. When I first got on the plane to come to Spain, I was extremely nervous. I did not know many people in my program, had never been to Europe, and would be away from my friends and family for so long. Now, I can confidently say this is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I will never forget the experiences I have had, the people I have met, and the things I have learned. Most importantly, I have become a more confident and capable person!
I have gotten to visit six countries and so many different cities. Although I love the U.S. and plan to have my future career and life there, I cannot wait to visit Europe again in the future -- and many other places across the world. I have a favorite quote from Mark Twain that says, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." In a bit simpler words, this means that travel can change you and make you a better person who respects the people and places around them because they understand them in a different way. My wish for all of you is to be able to have experiences in your life that accomplish this.
I am so grateful that I was able to participate in this opportunity with support from the Benjamin A.
