These past 3.5 months have been different from anything that you could have imagined in your wildest dreams. At first, it seems like time is moving at a snail’s pace and you perhaps have too much time, but as the end draws near it seems like time simply won’t stop ticking and you are running out of it. The urgency of time has really made itself known in the last 2 weeks. Suddenly there is a mountain of restaurants, places, and coffee dates with your coworkers you still have to check off. This may have made me a little more stressed than I should have been. But when I took a step back and reflected upon my semester, I left feeling satisfied and with no regrets.
As soon as I landed in the Harrisburg Airport, the past 3.5 months really felt like a hazy dream that occurred very long ago even when my camera roll is clearly noted with “taken one week ago in London”.
I have blossomed in my independence and the finding comfort in the idea of being on my own after studying abroad. Being in a new country where you don’t know anyone is undoubtedly frightening, but I found myself adapting relatively quickly after I got over my jet lag. When you are completely immersed in another environment, you quickly learn what works for you and what doesn’t. I learned the meaning of time and used it well. Between riding the tube to work then to class then to back home, it seemed like there wasn’t enough time in one day. But I started to read some novels on my long commute or get started on jotting down ideas for writing assignments or blog posts like this!
I have learned a lot about myself through my internship, classes, and simply living in a country that is so far from home. Working as an intern in a tech startup has taught me even more than I ever could have imagined. Since it was a relatively young company, the tools and tasks that I completed were always evolving along with the deadlines. However, I have learned that I thrive in an environment with tight deadlines and constant change because I love learning new things. These skills will be applied to my last 2 semesters at the Frederick Honors College without a doubt because I want to continue learning and exploring.
Being able to study abroad is without a doubt a privilege, but it’s also an experience that will last a lifetime. I have grown tremendously as a student, employee, and person in these past 3.5 months.
