When I was a senior in high school, I went on my school's Europe trip where I traveled all across France and Italy. I absolutely fell in love with traveling and knew instantly that I wanted to do more if it. It was then that I decided I wanted to study abroad in college. I knew it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to live in another country and travel to amazing places.

Being abroad helped me develop more empathy and understanding for other cultures. There are many social, political, and societal things that shape a country and its citizens and I think it's important as an American to understand this and realize how unique every country of the world is.

I studied abroad twice, once in the Netherlands and once in Italy. Both times I studied each country’s signed languages, which will help me be more qualified as an ASL interpreter and make me a more attractive employee. With this experience, I will also have travel work opportunities.

I made lifelong friends most of whom I am still in touch with today. I tune into Australian news online because I find it intriguing and funny. I learned new marketing trends that I was exposed to when I was abroad before it even trended in the US. Also, when I was down in Brisbane, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was filming down at the Gold Coast! How cool is that? 

I decided to study abroad because I wanted to experience something during my college career that was really outside of the box and take an opportunity that would change me and get me outside of my comfort zone.