Going into my abroad experience, I knew I wanted change. I had no idea what it was that I wanted to change, but I knew there was something. For the first few weeks I wrote in my journal religiously, I wandered off with my camera at least three times a week and I spent a large portion of my time on my own, searching for this change that I so desperately wanted to welcome into my life. I certainly had my time to think and because of this I had my fair share of getting lost, both literally and figuratively.
However, as the days flew by I began to realize that yes, I was getting lost as I had hoped, but I wasn’t figuring anything out for myself. I wasn’t “finding my way back.” It occurred to me that I had managed to isolate myself from all those around me because I was so focused on the things I wanted to discover and learn about myself. Unfortunately, what I had ignored up until that point is that it is the people along my way that would influence my journey more so than any personal effort I put forward, no matter how determined I was.
With this in mind I allowed myself to start going with the flow and experience things for what they were. I started to meet some of the most intriguing people I had ever had the opportunity to meet, and created even stronger bonds with the people that had always been there. I finally started to understand the impact that the other people on this abroad experience had on me and my own experience, and my outlook on the semester completely changed. I became so much more relaxed and less focused on what was going to change, and just let it happen.
When I look back on this past semester I will certainly remember the times when I got lost; however, more importantly, I will remember the people that I met along the way. These people have shaped my semester because they have allowed me to let go of any expectations I had and just take each day as it comes. I learned that the people around me can have an immense impact on my life; that they can essentially become my family. The importance of family has only grown stronger in my life over this past semester because I have acquired so many new families here in Florence. So now, looking back on my semester, I think of these families:
I think of my Bates crew and all the times we’ve had that simply cannot be put into words, including those we don’t necessarily remember…
I think of the incredible network of SUF faculty members that have influenced not only my career, but my way of thinking and way of life.
I think of my Gettysburg girls who slowly but surely got an earful about my personal life and who stuck around to listen without any hesitation.
I think of my host mom, Lucia, who opened up her home to a complete stranger who didn’t speak her language, and did so with such grace and so much patience.
I think of my Babson Beavers who shared my bravery to leave the dam for a semester abroad, and who I’m lucky enough to return to Babson with in the spring.
And of course, I think of My Little Florence and all the times she got me lost, but always helped me find my way back.
When I started this journey abroad I knew I wanted to get lost in order to have the opportunity to find my way back, not just to my apartment in Campo di Marte, but also to myself. College is all about figuring things out – your future, your career, yourself – but my mistake in trying to do so here in Florence was that I expected all of this to happen by my own accord. What I failed to realize is that it is the people around me that can shape these things much more than any conscious efforts of my own.
So let’s start with Bates. Bates, you made me realize that I do not want to settle in life. How? By showing me that it is possible to have the time of your life and still “get the grades.”
SUF Faculty, you gave me confidence in my academic ability exactly when I needed it. Maybe now I will finally be able to declare a concentration at school.
Gettysburg girls, you helped me realize that there are still people out there that can be trusted, even with the deepest of secrets.
Lucia, you taught me that you don’t have to speak the same language as someone in order to create a strong bond and relationship with him/her.
My fellow Beavers, you’ve quite literally helped me start to figure out who I am, and the type of person I want to be. You’re a special group of people and I am lucky to have shared this experience with you.
Last but certainly not least, My Little Florence. You will forever hold a special place in my heart because you taught me that no matter how many times I get lost, fall down or lose myself, I will always be able to find my way back and begin again.
My study abroad experience has challenged me in more ways than I ever thought possible. There were unbelievable highs and there were certainly painful lows, but I always had my families by my side for whatever the semester threw at me. I cannot thank them enough for the indescribable experience I have had here in Italy. If this journey has taught me anything it is this: stick with the one’s you’ve got.
However, as the days flew by I began to realize that yes, I was getting lost as I had hoped, but I wasn’t figuring anything out for myself. I wasn’t “finding my way back.” It occurred to me that I had managed to isolate myself from all those around me because I was so focused on the things I wanted to discover and learn about myself. Unfortunately, what I had ignored up until that point is that it is the people along my way that would influence my journey more so than any personal effort I put forward, no matter how determined I was.
With this in mind I allowed myself to start going with the flow and experience things for what they were. I started to meet some of the most intriguing people I had ever had the opportunity to meet, and created even stronger bonds with the people that had always been there. I finally started to understand the impact that the other people on this abroad experience had on me and my own experience, and my outlook on the semester completely changed. I became so much more relaxed and less focused on what was going to change, and just let it happen.
When I look back on this past semester I will certainly remember the times when I got lost; however, more importantly, I will remember the people that I met along the way. These people have shaped my semester because they have allowed me to let go of any expectations I had and just take each day as it comes. I learned that the people around me can have an immense impact on my life; that they can essentially become my family. The importance of family has only grown stronger in my life over this past semester because I have acquired so many new families here in Florence. So now, looking back on my semester, I think of these families:
I think of my Bates crew and all the times we’ve had that simply cannot be put into words, including those we don’t necessarily remember…
I think of the incredible network of SUF faculty members that have influenced not only my career, but my way of thinking and way of life.
I think of my Gettysburg girls who slowly but surely got an earful about my personal life and who stuck around to listen without any hesitation.
I think of my host mom, Lucia, who opened up her home to a complete stranger who didn’t speak her language, and did so with such grace and so much patience.
I think of my Babson Beavers who shared my bravery to leave the dam for a semester abroad, and who I’m lucky enough to return to Babson with in the spring.
And of course, I think of My Little Florence and all the times she got me lost, but always helped me find my way back.
When I started this journey abroad I knew I wanted to get lost in order to have the opportunity to find my way back, not just to my apartment in Campo di Marte, but also to myself. College is all about figuring things out – your future, your career, yourself – but my mistake in trying to do so here in Florence was that I expected all of this to happen by my own accord. What I failed to realize is that it is the people around me that can shape these things much more than any conscious efforts of my own.
So let’s start with Bates. Bates, you made me realize that I do not want to settle in life. How? By showing me that it is possible to have the time of your life and still “get the grades.”
SUF Faculty, you gave me confidence in my academic ability exactly when I needed it. Maybe now I will finally be able to declare a concentration at school.
Gettysburg girls, you helped me realize that there are still people out there that can be trusted, even with the deepest of secrets.
Lucia, you taught me that you don’t have to speak the same language as someone in order to create a strong bond and relationship with him/her.
My fellow Beavers, you’ve quite literally helped me start to figure out who I am, and the type of person I want to be. You’re a special group of people and I am lucky to have shared this experience with you.
Last but certainly not least, My Little Florence. You will forever hold a special place in my heart because you taught me that no matter how many times I get lost, fall down or lose myself, I will always be able to find my way back and begin again.
My study abroad experience has challenged me in more ways than I ever thought possible. There were unbelievable highs and there were certainly painful lows, but I always had my families by my side for whatever the semester threw at me. I cannot thank them enough for the indescribable experience I have had here in Italy. If this journey has taught me anything it is this: stick with the one’s you’ve got.