As my study abroad experience has come to a close, I still carry with me the many life lessons that I learned. For starters, life is short, and while it is okay to say “no,” saying “yes” also leads to great memories that may just last a lifetime. I want to say yes more, so I do not waste my life living comfortably. This trip has made me want to be more confident and brave and jump into new experiences headfirst. This will help me in pursuit of my professional goals. Networking with professionals and companies can be scary, but if I am never uncomfortable, I am never going to grow into the strong, powerful woman I want to be. I am now signed up for 3 summer sessions with 3 different companies to grow more confident in my soft skills. Secondly, I learned that it truly is the people who make the place. Cyprus is a beautiful country, and I am so glad I got to experience it with the great friends I made along the way. Friends who lift you up and want to see you succeed in your academic goals is who you need to surround yourself with. Back in an academic setting I will make sure to keep my circle tight with people who have firm goals and beliefs because we will only help elevate each other. This can also go for companies I look at as I start to hunt for future internships and jobs. If there is a bad company culture or no relationship amongst its employees, I now know I will never truly be happy. I work best in an environment where people care for each other and want to watch each other thrive. I certainly need competition to help me push myself to be my best, but at the end of the day it should just be a tool to help each other grow and not foster a negative environment. 

I learned a few academic lessons about myself as well. One, in particular, is that I need to be alone to lock in and get my work done. I enjoy people’s company too much and I will yap if I do not take a moment for myself. I also learned that it is better to be early than on time. Having a moment to prepare yourself, before class, for instance will lead to a much better experience, at least for me. That is when I find I can truly be present. Rushing is my least favorite thing and only causes me to be stressed. 

This trip to Cyprus has been invaluable for my growth as a student, hopeful future business leader, and person. The lessons I have learned will be carried with me for years to come, and I honestly hope I never lose sight of them. Stepping outside my comfort zone has been great for my confidence and skill-building. Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible for me, as words cannot describe how much it changed my outlook on life.