GROWING ABROAD.

• Author: Glenn, Celia

Looking back, I'll admit it--there were times when I felt unprepared to study abroad.

I pictured myself filling out applications, booking plane tickets, packing bags and living an exotic, Pinterest-inspired, international lifestyle like I'd seen my friends seemingly do. It's easy to get lost in romantic thoughts about traveling the globe.

But then I felt the first wave of uncertainty as I boarded my plane to Chile. I was the only High Point University student on the trip, which meant it was up to me to find a group of friends who would make this corner of the world seem like home for a semester.

And then I stepped into a world where English wasn't common. All the Spanish classes I'd taken didn't stop me from stumbling through my first few conversations with native speakers.

Soon, though, I realized I'd been thinking about it all wrong.

Being prepared doesn't mean you'll always be comfortable in new situations.

It just means you'll be able to grow in the midst of it.

Into the Unknown

Studying abroad in Valparaiso, Chile, gave me some of the most exciting and adventurous moments in my life. I traveled to a few of the world's most beautiful spots, like the mountaintops of Machu Picchu and the glaciers of Patagonia. I bus-hopped to Peru with other college students, and I hiked to lagoons I'd imagined were only seen on National Geographic.

The fun, picturesque memories are easy to recall. But there were challenges, too, and lots of daily adjustments to my new way of life. Like living with a family who didn't know me, but would grow to become my second home.

As my life adjusted there, I realized later that HPU hadn't just prepared me to adapt to my experience in Chile. They'd prepared me with the information and techniques I needed to navigate the unknown.

First were my professors. Within the Spanish department, faculty challenged me to study abroad and asked me to raise my expectations of myself. They encouraged me to not just study Spanish as a hobby, but to really dedicate myself to the language and commit to being a double major. They helped me choose classes that would keep me on track toward my degree and helped me choose Chile as my destination based on the types of experiences I wanted to gain.

Then there was HPU's Study Abroad Office. The staff was instrumental in finding the opportunity that would take me to Chile. They helped me submit my applications and line up all travel requirements before I departed. Without staff like Joy...