Reflection
Leaving your home country for the first time and the academic structure you’ve known for years, can be a daunting experience, and there were times throughout my planning that made me question if I had the confidence to go abroad. With the support from my SFU advisors, family, and friends, I was able to gain self-confidence and self-trust for the journey I was embarking on. The opportunities that going abroad gave me was not only for academic growth, but the personal development was invaluable, and this experience is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Despite being close to graduation, my desire to go on exchange was something I pursued, and I am very grateful I did. The level of self-confidence, self-trust, and critical thinking I have cultivated while on exchange, including living on my own for the first time, pursuing studies in a foreign country with its unique way of teaching, and exploring a new place, is truly an experience that fostered growth and maturity. I was compelled to apply the academic strengths I refined at SFU at the UofG, and I was able to achieve good grades which built my confidence in academic skills.
Most Valuable Aspects of This Experience
The most valuable aspect of going abroad for me was that it pushed me to trust myself in a way I had not before. Not only did the experience push me academically, giving me the opportunity to discover new passions for subjects I had not considered, but it impacted my personal life on a deeper level. Being in a new environment where you’re eight hours ahead and the people you would rely on aren’t available right away, pushes you to adapt and trust yourself to make decisions and work harder for things you need and want. It also widens your world view, not only being immersed in a different social culture but being exposed to people from all over the world gives you new perspectives on new and different cultures.
Connection to Academic Studies or Career Goals
This experience has reinvigorated my love for education and my ambitions for future schooling. I am determined to complete my degree and perhaps move on to post graduate school in the UK. Going on exchange has not only allowed me to take unique classes, but classes I would not have considered taking at my home university. They have been impactful to my education by giving me new insights that I can bring into my current degree, inspire my next one, and carry into my future career.
Advice for Future Students
Since the start of my academic career I knew I wanted to go on exchange in some form. It was a personal desire of mine to experience education in another country and broaden my understanding of the world before I obtained my bachelors. Yet, with the onslaught of COVID 19 and the subsequent travel restrictions, my field school trip to Italy and abroad was cancelled in 2019. It overshadowed graduation from Langara College and my transfer to SFU, and my dreams of going abroad seemed unreachable. I continued my studies and kept the dream in the background, and when the opportunity came up for going abroad, I took the bull by the horns and bravely said yes! My advice is to broaden your worldview by going on exchange, even for one semester, or a year if you want. The personal growth and educational experiences are well worth the time and you will also see yourself become more of who you are.