"Looking back, I can see that New York opened my eyes and gave me wings, but Sweden truly let me soar."
Coming into college as a first-generation, low-income student from Leola, South Dakota, a town of just 400 people, I would have never imagined I would go to school in New York City… let alone visit almost a dozen countries across Europe during my sophomore year. Before freshman move-in day, I had never left the Midwest before. The transition was truly a culture shock, but it taught me an important lesson: growth only happens in the face of adversity. Looking back, I can see that New York opened my eyes and gave me wings, but Sweden truly let me soar.
“Grateful” doesn’t cover the extent of how fortunate I feel for the opportunities Columbia and QuestBridge have given me.
I chose to study abroad because I wanted to challenge myself and experience ways of life different from anything I’d ever known growing up. My time in Sweden was full of cultural, linguistic, and social growth. It was remarkable. I made so many great friends from so many different places, and I learned as much from them as I did in the classroom. If you’re looking to study abroad, no matter where the program is, I wholeheartedly urge you to jump at it. I grew so much
in those six months at DIS Stockholm, and I am endlessly
grateful for the friends I’ve made and experiences I’ve had.
Most importantly, studying abroad taught me independence and adaptability. It taught me how beautiful a thing language is: more than just a way of communicating, but, rather, a way of understanding people and culture.
As I venture down my path to become a mechanical engineer, my experience abroad trained me to approach unfamiliar situations with curiosity and a desire to learn. I know I will continue to carry this lesson with me throughout my professional and academic career.
