How can studying abroad help one develop important life skills such as problem-solving, independence, and resilience?
When planning to study abroad, I was extremely nervous to be by myself in a different country with people I'd never met. Being back from studying abroad in Italy, I realized there was nothing to be afraid of. Getting out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to get the most out of my experience allowed me to make many new friendships and gain important life skills. I gained a new sense of independence by being away from family and familiar support, balancing schoolwork, travel, and social activities, being around new people every day, navigating a foreign country in a different language, and handling everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, going to the store, and navigating public transportation. It helped my problem-solving skills as I had to overcome language barriers, manage finances with different currencies, budget for living and travel expenses, and navigate a new culture with different norms, expectations, and languages. Although there were challenges, I quickly adapted to my new lifestyle and greatly enjoyed learning new things and cultural differences. My experiences have given me so much confidence and I feel more prepared to overcome future obstacles when entering the workforce.