Opportunity of a lifetime

Being a college student is all about opportunities. When I first stepped onto this campus as a freshman, I couldn't wait to open all of the doors in front of me. There were several things that I knew I wanted to do before graduation, but so far, I have only accomplished one:going abroad.\nEver since I heard about the study abroad program, I knew it was something I wanted to do. Last year, after completing all the paperwork and interviews, I found myself living amidst the crowds in the city of London. \nAt first I was a nervous wreck, getting lost all over the place and calling home every other day. But after awhile, London became my home. And when I boarded the plane in December to return home, I knew that my experiencesthere were ones I would cherish forever.\nDuring my time there, I met many people from all over the world. Living and studying with people of different nationalities certainly gave me a whole new perspective on the world; I now know more about the British political system and the royal family. The culture also changed the way I look at myself; instead of a just blond girl from Tennessee, I am an American. \nI also got the chance to travel to numerous places. In Rome, I finally got to see the Coliseum up close, not just during one of the hundreds of times I\'ve watched Gladiator. I sailed on a Catamaran in Barcelona. And in Ireland, I saw some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. In terms of opportunities, these were things I may never get to do again. \nFurthermore, just living in a major metropolitan city allowed me to do more than I ever imagined. During the four months I was there, I toured everything from Buckingham Palace to Sotheby's. I was on a first name basis with a curator at the National Gallery. And after a hard day of work, there were hundreds of spectacular nightclubs calling my name. There was always something exciting to do, from going out at posh martini bars to searching for celebrities. After all, when else will I have a chance to run into Prince William? London, like many other international cities, was a dream come true.\nAlthough there are numerous reasons to go abroad, many people simply aren\'t interested, and I can understand why. The physical distance is tough to take and the language barriers can be even worse. It's a major change, and adjusting to a foreign culture is a difficult task. \nBut even if you are only thinking about going abroad, you should definitely look into it. After weighing the pros and cons, I decided that there was no better time for me to experience life on the other side of the Atlantic and further my education at the same time. Living overseas is something I may never be able to do again.\nNow that I am back in Indiana, I often think about my time spent abroad. Although four months may seem insignificant in terms of my entire life, it is a time that I will remember forever. In terms of decisions, going overseas is something I will never regret.\nThe decisions you make every day affect your future in so many different ways. When you come across these doors of opportunity, you can walk on by or take a look, see what is out there. If studying abroad is a future possibility, I encourage you to take a chance, to see what might be waiting for you on the other side. After all, you never know what might be there.