Studying abroad in Barcelona was the experience of a lifetime! As I hoped, it pushed me to become a more independent, aware, and open minded person. Also, I am proud to have met my goal of Spanish fluency, which has opened up the door to a whole new range of relationships, understandings, and opportunities. Living outside of my comfort zone and home culture made me more adaptive and confident in my ability to meet and overcome new challenges. It would be lying to say that I didn’t struggle: I was often frustrated by misunderstandings, I occasionally longed for familiarity and my friends and family at home, and I found it difficult to be and express myself in a foreign language, culture, and context. Yet reflecting on these difficulties helped me discover my own personal strengths and weaknesses as well as interests and disinterests. My experiences clarified my values and forced me to think about what I want out of my education, out of a career, out of myself, out of others, and out of life. Only through an external perspective did I come to see how many things I take for granted. I feel so fortunate to have had this enriching opportunity, and I highly encourage anyone who is thinking about studying, working, or living abroad to do so. I was in Europe for 361 days, and I am so happy that I didn’t choose a shorter program. In retrospect, I definitely needed a year to settle in, get to know the city well, establish a residential routine, feel like a local, and undergo the mental progression that comes with living abroad rather than just touristing around. Because my experiences studying in Barcelona and traveling through Europe were so positive, I am now looking for a job or internship internationally, (possibly in South America).
I am very grateful to all of the members of the Chris Borton Memorial Scholarship board for their support and generosity. Receiving the scholarship really was a crucial part of making a lifelong dream come true, and studying in Barcelona was an experience that I will cherish forever.