Going on exchange was the best thing I have ever done. Was it always easy? Of course not. Did it completely change my life? Absolutely.
My time abroad gave me the chance to navigate a brand-new life on my own, and it has shaped the person I am proud to be today. I had the privilege of attending the in Scotland.
Not only did I encounter one of the hardest accents to understand (Glaswegian), but I also immersed myself in a culture that felt both new and familiar. Growing up in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia - 鈥淣ew Scotland鈥 - it felt like a homecoming in more ways than one.
From the highlands to the wee pubs, I met incredible people with stories like no other (and even discovered an unexpected love for haggis.) The University of Glasgow was a place like no other. It looked like Hogwarts and felt just as magical. Between late nights in the library, five pound lattes with classmates, and quiet walks through the cloisters, the campus became a huge part of my experience.
I took courses that challenged me to think differently, and I met students from around the world who have grown to become lifelong friends. During my exchange, I was fortunate to travel to numerous countries, each one teaching me something new about independence, adaptability, and perspective.
With that said, the most valuable aspect of studying abroad is the personal growth that comes from building a new life from scratch. You learn to trust yourself in unfamiliar situations, to embrace uncertainty, and to find magic in small, ordinary moments that end up meaning everything.
Of course, the experience wasn鈥檛 without its challenges. One of the hardest parts was putting my life at home on pause. The time zones, the distance, and the emotional element of leaving your familiarity behind was difficult, but it taught me a valuable lesson:
To lead the life you want to live, you must truly lean on yourself and who you want to be I learned to be patient with myself, and to embrace the sense of independence that has come in such a rare form. The challenges I faced on my own and the lessons I learned from them have strengthened my relationship with myself and gave me the assurance I have today.
If I were to give advice to students considering exchange, I鈥檇 tell them this: say yes to the opportunity, even if it feels daunting. Embrace the discomfort and uncertainty, because that鈥檚 where the growth happens. The exchange experience is your chance to write an entirely new chapter in your life鈥檚 story - one that is filled with exploration, laughter, challenge, and self-discovery.
As bittersweet as it was to see my time in Scotland come to an end, I know that the lessons I learned, the friendships I formed, and the confidence I built will carry into every chapter yet to come. Studying abroad changed my life, and I wouldn鈥檛 trade a single moment of it
