When first considering studying abroad, all I could think of was wanting to go somewhere that would genuinely change me. I wanted to experience a new way of thinking, a new daily routine in life, exposure to different ideologies on things that usually are mundane. This applied to both me personally and professionally. The students at Lund University taught me a very profound lesson while abroad – grades are merely just a small part of who you are. Coming from a highly competitive environment, a lot of self worth is placed on performance in school. The school I attend and the people I hang out with on campus all take pride in being the best of the best academically. That ideology was something I shared at the time, but I know now this was a mistake. Life has too much to offer to only worry about grades and your future career prospects. Although important, it is only a small fraction of the seemingly infinite world we live in. Swedish students and the friends I met all showed me how necessary it is for you to connect with people around the world, explore new places, eat new foods, and most importantly, create a healthy and encouraging social circle. Your friends have a huge influence on you in life whether you recognize it or not. I will miss my Swedish friends dearly, however I have no doubt that I will stay in contact because of their role in changing my world view. All of my goals abroad were accomplished, and many were exceeded by a significant margin. One thing that has been itching the back of my brain is that I can’t wait to get home, but not necessarily because I miss it. I want to apply what I learned back home. The skills I gained abroad are simply priceless. Socially I have reached a level of communication that I didn’t know was possible due to my extended time speaking to people from all over the world. A new train of thought has flooded my critical thinking and I can’t wait to see the results. A new appreciation for what I have in my life in California was also found. The weather, the safety, the endless entertainment. California is one of those places that is popular for a good reason, and I took that all for granted before I left for Sweden. However, my heart now lies outside of California, and my new plan is to eventually live my life abroad. Permanently. All of this was possible thanks to those who helped me and other fellow students pursue our dreams abroad. I am extremely grateful for the aid this scholarship has provided me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
When first considering studying abroad, all I could think of was wanting to go somewhere that would genuinely change me. I wanted to experience a new way of thinking, a new daily routine, and different ideologies. The students at Lund University taught me a profound lesson—grades are just a small part of who you are. Coming from a highly competitive environment, a lot of my self worth was placed on performing in school, but life has too much to offer to only worry about grades and career prospects. Swedish students and the friends I met all showed me how necessary it is to connect with people around the world, to explore new places, eat new foods, and most importantly, create a healthy and encouraging social circle.