Why studying abroad changed my life

From Michael DePasquale

If you have the opportunity to study abroad, taking it may be the best decision you can make. I’m a 21-year-old junior from the United States, and now two weeks into my semester studying in Barcelona, but last summer I was on the fence about abroad, it felt like too big of a change. So here’s how it happened to me –> 

After voting “maybe?” on an “are you going abroad?” poll sent to a group chat, I made my uncertainty public. This group chat included almost all my friends including under and upperclassmen. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but without that small moment of commitment, I’m not sure I’d be where I am now.  

Later that day, one of the upperclassmen, who is one of my best friends, gave me a phone call. He had just finished his semester abroad in Milan and had seen my “maybe” vote on the poll from earlier. We ended up talking on the phone for two hours, and for two hours, he explained to me why I should go abroad and how much I would love the experience. Now, looking back, I understand him completely.  

How it‘s going

Two weeks may not seem like a long time, but in that short span, I have grown in ways I didn’t expect. I‘d say to myself, “im already independent”, living alone at a college that’s a 12-hour drive from home. However, taking the leap and going from living alone at college, to living alone in a foreign country, does something to you. For me, it pushed me out of my comfort zone, but in doing so it taught me how to seriously rely on myself, and how to become truly independent. From figuring out how to take the metro, to learning and practicing other languages, almost everything I have done so far has been a new experience. It has made me more adaptable, more emotionally in tune with myself and others, and strengthened both my soft and hard skills.  

For me, Barcelona was the perfect choice. I didn’t realize it before, but people from all around the world live and travel here. I’ve met people from Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Russia, Greece, Canada, Latin America, and the list keeps growing. Here, I found a place where I could practice Spanish, and also have the opportunity to learn many other languages as well. And with the help of TBS Education, I’ve been diving into the real-world dynamics of international business, gaining hands-on skills and the confidence needed to thrive in any business-related career path.  

Barcelona is truly one of a kind. The streets and buildings are beautiful, and the city is rich of history and culture, filled with restaurants, shops, people, and liveliness. With its daytime and nightlife atmosphere, I like to tell people that it’s a mix of Rome, Miami, and New York City all in one place.  

There are many things I already love about Barcelona; however, that isn’t the point of writing this. My true goal is to be the friend to you that mine was to me. To be the person who tells you that you have to go abroad. If I can convince even one more person reading this to take that step, then writing this will have been completely worth it. So, if you’re still reading, I hope you truly consider it, and if it feels right, trust yourself to take the leap.