My whole life my parents have instilled in me the value of travel and having a global perspective. They believe that in doing so, I will grow up to be a more well-rounded individual capable of better empathizing with people from various backgrounds. In the fall of 2022, this belief manifested into the greatest experience of my life.

I studied abroad in Jönköping, Sweden, and attended Jönköping International Business School. It’s a medium-sized city located in the southern half of Sweden, about five hours south of Stockholm. It lies on the southern tip of a massive lake that’s known to be among the cleanest in Europe. In the summer, people spend their time shopping in the town square or relaxing on the lake’s beaches. It’s an idealistic Scandinavian paradise.

Studying abroad can be a daunting experience. There are multiple moving parts that you have to manage to piece together to create your ideal study abroad experience. For me, the most anxiety-inducing part was simply figuring out where to begin. Luckily for me, WSU has a dedicated study abroad office that helps with every step in your process. I started by going to a study abroad information session where I submitted my interest form. From there, I contacted Ann Burger at the study abroad office and she helped me through the process of choosing my classes, applying for a residency permit and planning my ideal experience.

Studying in a new place can be summed up into a couple of words: challenging yet rewarding. I had to rely on myself and my abilities when it came to most daily activities. I hadn’t considered how different grocery shopping is in Sweden as compared to the U.S., nor did I think about how I had to bring my own bags to stores as most stores charged extra for bags. Yet, with every challenge that came my way, I found a way to navigate it. I used resources available at the university such as their exchange student office to answer questions or provide support as I navigated the new life I was becoming accustomed to. If they didn’t have the answers I was looking for, there was a high chance that the network of friends I had made would be able to provide support. I am most proud of how much I grew and matured when I realized that if I needed something, I had to be the one to reach out and make that first contact. I learned that no matter the culture or nationality, people are inclined to help their fellow person and that’s something I want to translate into my daily life back home.

Aside from the growth I experienced while abroad, my favorite part would be the traveling I was able to do while in Europe. I wanted to make sure I did not spend my whole time concentrating in one singular area, but instead spread out over the continent, trying to get as much of a global perspective as I could in my relatively short time over there. In the end, I was able to visit 11 countries and my time spent in each was so different that I have distinct memories of each place that will last me a lifetime. 

If you’re a student considering studying abroad, my advice to you would be to just jump into it. It’s a life-changing commitment, and can be nerve-wracking at the start. Once you get over that hurdle, however, that’s when you will start seeing just how far you can go. For me, I fully committed and ended up having the best adventure of my life. I’m excited to see where you will end up.