Zoë, Carleton College, spent a semester in Scandinavia. During her time abroad, she passed on advice for creating a unique study abroad experience.
Read Zoë’s letter, and learn more about what to expect from a semester with DIS.
Deciding to study abroad was an impulsive decision. My choice to live overseas was mostly rooted in my desire to have a change of scenery at the time, and in truth, I was largely unaware of the most compelling factors of my stay in Scandinavia that would beget a formative and memorable academic term.
One of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad was the ease with which I naturally found myself having novel experiences: interacting with people from backgrounds markedly unlike my own, finding my niche in an intercultural communal living space, and exploring locations I had no familiarity with at all caused me to mature as a global citizen and traveler.
“I am proud of how I challenged myself in these months, and I believe I have reaped the benefits.”
If there was one goal that I had set for myself when I departed from the States, it was to keep an open mind and broaden my horizons, even if it occasionally made me uncomfortable. Now I can confess that my time abroad was an effective avenue for me to fulfill this objective.
It is amazing how such a brief amount of time in a new country can push you to become a more worldly, educated, and confident individual. I am proud of how I challenged myself in these months, and I believe I have reaped the benefits.
I urge you to take advantage of the opportunity to uproot and live in a setting with different cultural, social, and political features than what you are accustomed to. You are bound to create valuable memories that you will take with you for the rest of your life.
Best of luck on your journey!
Zoë