My program ended a few days ago, and it’s safe to say that I would go back in a heartbeat. Traveling across the world to a new country where I knew no one was daunting, but it turned out to be the best decision I’ve made.

For those who are unfamiliar with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), it is a study abroad and internship program for students from any school and any field of study. A friend of mine studied abroad through AIFS last year and recommended it to me. While Pitt offers an excellent study abroad program in Florence, I wanted to pursue a different option, so I chose AIFS.

That said, I didn’t know anybody in my program. I was assigned five random roommates and took two classes, each with about fifteen students. Unlike my adjustment to college freshman year, I only had four weeks to make the most of it-  and I did just that. This opportunity required me to put myself out there in new ways and really get out of my comfort zone.

Growing up, I was told that going outside of your comfort zone makes you grow as a person, but I never truly understood what that meant until now. I can confidently say that going outside of my comfort zone helped me become more confident in myself and my capabilities. I gained a better sense of who I am, who I want to become, and what kind of impact I want to leave on others.

I plan to embrace this idea of “productive discomfort” back with me at Pitt. In large lectures, I want to speak up more, sit a few rows closer than I usually do, and attend university events or clubs even if it means going alone.

Outside of school, I want to start saying yes to new opportunities- from trying new foods to going on solo adventures. I aspire to put myself out in the world and be myself despite the situation. After my global experience, I know that this will lead to a better, more grounded version of myself.

While studying abroad taught me a lot about Italian culture and society, I was not expecting to learn so much about myself. As I mentioned in my first blog post, I prioritize routine in my life at home. Now, I feel empowered to break from my routine and explore what’s outside of it.