During the  Spring 2019 semester of my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to study abroad in the enchanting city of Barcelona, Spain. While in Europe I had the opportunity to travel to France, Italy, Austria, the UK, Portugal, and Monaco. My experience abroad put into perspective the things I value in life by forcing me to reflect on the things I was feeling and experiencing each day, as every interaction that occurred was something entirely new to me. I learned a lot about myself by jumping headfirst into new and sometimes frightening situations, as only then was I able to uncover my true strengths and weaknesses. My time abroad enlightened me in the sense that it gave me the confidence to follow my passions, to dive headfirst into the unknown in the hopes of leading a fulfilled life. 

 

Fulfillment, for me, has always come in the form of creation and engaging with stories. I have always been passionate about storytelling, gaining inspiration from the likes of Oscar Wilde all the way to Jenny Han. I loved stories that I could relate to, stories that made me feel a little bit less alone in the world. This is what led me to pursue my future career in media and cultural insights, as what better way to spend my days than waking up and getting to bring more nuance and insight to those stories. I am thankful for my time abroad in that it forced me to delve deep within myself to uncover what I am truly passionate about, passions that I hope will continue to inspire me far into my future career.