Reflecting on my time in Romania, I am coming away with so many valuable lessons, both in and out of the classroom. Throughout this trip, I learned valuable lessons about understanding other cultures from a non-judgmental perspective, time management, doing things outside my comfort zone, showing up and participating while tired, balancing work and fun, and many, many more. I will carry these lessons into the rest of my time at Pitt and beyond by never allowing fear to stop me from doing something new. That was one of my biggest takeaways from this trip; do it tired, do it scared, do it uncomfortable. I will also take with me into all my future endeavors a strong sense of respect and humility for my status as an American college student. It is not until you leave your environment that you truly face the privilege in your life, and I am eternally grateful to all of our interlocutors during the trip for being vulnerable and giving us the privilege of hearing just a little bit of their stories.  

Throughout this experience, I have felt incredibly supported by my twelve peers on the program, my professor Horia, and all our interlocutors that sat down and patiently answered all our questions. I could talk all day about how much I love the group I traveled with. They are truly the best, they made every day an adventure, and they were the best people to lean on during hard moments. My professor Horia was also always there to answer any questions we could have had about anything, as well as check in with us regularly.  

This experience has changed and affirmed my vision for my future beyond words. Before leaving for the program, I had just decided at the end of the school year that I want to go to law school after graduating from Pitt. Traveling to Romania only reinforced this belief, as I met so many lawyers during the trip who have inspired me to do the work they do. Visiting the EU and NATO in Brussels also strengthened this dream of mine, as I can see myself working in law on an international scale, such as human rights law.  

I have too many favorite memories from the trip to even begin to recall, so here just a few: hanging out and getting to know everyone the first night in my hotel room, attending the Princess of Romania’s garden party, eating so much good food, seeing CATS every day, painting a mural at ACCEPT in Bucharest, climbing a mountain in Braşov, touring fortified churches, our day of good food and playing on the farm in Viscri, exploring the beautiful churches and lively old town of Sibiu, visiting an abandoned salt mine, and the endless balconies at our hotels. While not every moment was a stand-out, amazing memory, every day had moments of joy that made the experience special.

The advice I would give to future Honors College students considering study abroad is to DO IT. No matter what else you do during your three, four, or five years of undergrad, I think studying abroad is non-negotiable. It will change you in ways you can’t even imagine before you go, and which can’t be replicated through any other experience. Before going on my trip, I always thought people saying that study abroad was the best experience of their life were being dramatic. This is not dramatic. Study abroad was truly one of the best experiences of my life, and I would recommend it to just about everyone, even if you’re terrified to do it.