UNL student shares her experience studying abroad in London | Opinion

Across the pond, I find myself on a journey with my classmates who I don’t really know. Originally, we were 15 students with one thing in common: our study abroad trip. 

Over the course of spring break we spent time figuring out the London tube station and how to survive in a foreign country. By the end of the week, I found 15 new friends. From falling into the back of a bus to constantly looking the opposite way while crossing the street, this trip came with many new experiences. This is my guide to studying abroad.

Going into college many students fantasize about taking a study abroad trip. Within my first semester at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I applied and got accepted into two programs. I was eager to explore the world and learn more about life outside of the United States, as I had never flown internationally before. I didn’t know what to expect on my study abroad trip, and when I got to class the first day of the semester, I quickly realized I knew nobody. 

Studying abroad for the first time can be a terrifying experience. I wish I had someone who could tell me what to expect as I prepared for my trip. Luckily, I was able to survive this journey so that I can share my experience.

Step one, find a group and stick to it. I am a very shy person when it comes to talking out loud, so before I left for my trip I didn’t talk to anyone traveling with me. 

The second I landed in London, I was on a mission to leave behind my quiet exterior. I met up with my assigned roommate and started making conversation. If I was going to spend the next week in a room with someone, I wanted to make sure I knew who I was spending my time with. 

We quickly found another girl in our class who was stupid enough to befriend us. I was shocked at how close I was able to get with a few girls in such a short amount of time. Stepping outside of my comfort zone allowed me to relax and have fun with a great group of girls. 

Step two, expect the unexpected. Nothing ever goes as planned when traveling. Whether experiencing delays on London’s underground subway or stumbling upon a random famous person, it is important to not let a change in plans affect the trip. 

I am the type of person who needs a schedule planned out. I like knowing when things are happening and what to expect when I wake up in the morning. In London, I left behind my fear of not following a planned schedule and allowed life to guide me. 

This led to some of my favorite memories. I was able to stumble upon random famous people during my trip including Kate Middleton, Fergie, possibly the king and queen and even be on a movie set. None of these events would have happened if I tried to control my schedule for the day. It is way more fun to have a relaxed time with friends than sticking to a strict schedule that doesn’t allow for any breathing room. 

Step three, remember to live in the moment. I don’t travel often, so having the ability to travel through education was a great way for me to explore the world. Time flies when traveling, and it can be so easy to get caught up in everything that will happen after a trip. 

I’m not saying to put off school, work or spend money irresponsibly, but it is important to remember that people only travel so much in a lifetime. When deciding whether or not to get a special souvenir or take a nap, remember that these trips go by so fast. It’s hard to say when we will be able to experience this again, so it is important to live in the moment and make the trip worthwhile. 

I understand that studying abroad can be an expense that some people don’t think is worth it. It was hard leaving friends and family behind and worrying about how much money I was spending. Even with these setbacks, studying abroad has been the absolute best part of college, and if I could do it again, I would in a heartbeat. 

There is nothing like the experience of being a college student living life around the world. We are only young for so long, and chances like these don’t come along often. It is important to get out into the world and experience the unknown by taking chances and stepping outside of our comfort zones. Studying abroad has been the best part of my college experience, and I highly recommend it to everyone. 

Jocelynn Messersmith is a freshman journalism and broadcasting double major. You can reach her at [email protected].