The beginning of a new term means that many Dickinson students have either begun their abroad experience, or returned to Dickinson and told everyone about their time in another country. For a few, this time will have provided them with reassurance that Dickinson was the right choice, and that overall they enjoyed their time home more than their semester abroad. While others will come back saying phrases such as: “It changed my life!” “I met so many amazing people!” or (my personal favorite) “I really found myself while I was abroad!” Having had some friends begin their time abroad this spring, I would like to discuss how hearing about other people’s experiences can ruin your time abroad.

I would like to start with the phrase many people use when they come back: “I found myself.” First, studying abroad will not help anyone find his or herself. There is no other version out there of yourself that you magically find and decide to become. Instead, you can make changes in your life that benefit you in positive ways. Everyone can change, and if you feel the need to do so then try to take steps toward it; do not rely on an experience somehow helping you find the “perfect” version of you. It does not work that way.

Second, people need to stop basing their abroad experience off of other people. Others can definitely give insight, but no two people will do the same things. I had a conversation with my girlfriend this week about her abroad expectations. She told me that everyone talks about how amazing and life changing everything is, and that this creates pressure on her to have an equally amazing time. Do not feel pressure to do anything while abroad. Embrace whatever you want to do. If you want to travel, then travel, but if you want to immerse yourself in your studies then grab your books and go to the library. The wonderful thing about being on your own, even more than when you are at Dickinson, is that the two things that hold you back are you, and money (which mostly depends on if you want to travel every chance you get).

Since being in Norwich, I have seen myself change in ways that I always wanted to, which has a lot to do with being on my own, and not Dickinson living in a dorm on my own, but rather something that closely resembles adult life after college. As a result, I let my inner extrovert (ironic, huh?) come out. In order to become the better version of myself I began to focus a bit more on me, and stop caring about what others thought. Obviously, this shift can be done anywhere, but I think if anyone has trouble making the change, then going abroad can force it out.

I still believe that no one ever “finds” himself or herself, and if someone really did, then they would not have to inform people, it would be obvious. Going to another country, however, can act as a catalyst for personal growth, and if it does not, don’t fret, because everyone has a different experience. There should be no pressure while abroad to do anything other than what you want to do, so don’t mirror others’ travels or experiences, write your own narrative instead.