My original plan was to study over summer, for a shorter amount of time, as an entire semester abroad seemed intimidating to me; however, an entire semester abroad turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. The nearly four months in Heidelberg, Germany, provides the cost effectiveness and cultural immersion that could not be achieved in a shorter program. What’s more, the time I spent in Europe was made much better by staying at the ESC. The helpfulness of the staff, the friendships made in the due to the dorm-style living, the excursions and the location of the ESC made the transition from the States to Europe much easier and ensured that my time spent here was not wasted.
The experiences that one has while studying abroad cannot be replicated by staying at one’s home university. You will hear again and again how people have grown as individuals in ways they could not have foreseen, and that is no different for me. When I heard from previous study abroad students that they had grown as a person, I thought it was a cliché claim made to seem more cultured and socially intelligent. Now that I experienced it for myself, I can assure you that that is not the case.
If you are looking to do something that you have not done before, or if you are looking to achieve a level of independence that you have not achieved before, then studying abroad is for you. The people you meet and the things that you do will be in your heart and mind for your whole life.
If you have any questions or want to talk about studying abroad or anything else, email me: barghow1@tcnj.edu.