In the August
before I started my freshman year at Michigan State University, I decided to
apply to go on a Freshman Study Abroad to Salvador, Brazil. I wanted to the
chance to meet professors, especially because the two professors going on the
trip taught for James Madison College, where I would be attending. I also
thought it'd be helpful to get to know other new students who shared similar
interests, like traveling, as me. The application process for the FSA wasn't
very difficult, but I had developed convincing arguments about the benefits of
study abroad to persuade my parents into supporting my trip. I was accepted
into the program, and convinced my parents studying abroad would be largely
advantageous for me. I quickly grasped that my dream of traveling outside the
country (further than Canada, that is) would soon become a reality. I was very
nervous in the weeks leading up to my departure; I didn't know anyone else who
I would be traveling and spending two weeks with. However, I realized that this
mirrored what my transition to MSU would be like.
My time in Brazil
was filled with the befriending of my fellow students, many who were also
entering James Madison, exploring the city and culture of Salvador, and
building up a relationship with my professor. The schoolwork was not
overwhelming, but it gave me a fair idea of the level of writing that was
expected of students in James Madison. It definitely helped to prepare me for
the work in college. I loved the
opportunity to meet and talk with students who were in the same place in their
lives as I was. We were able to discuss what we were excited about for MSU and
our fears about roommates and classes. This helped to dilute my own worries
about the future, since I knew that other people were also nervous. When I
returned back home, and had to wait two weeks before entering college, I could
hardly wait. Traveling independently abroad gave me a taste for freedom that
made me even more eager to come to MSU. Now being a freshman at MSU, I realize
more than ever how beneficial my study abroad to Brazil truly was. It gave me
the confidence to explore an entirely new place on my own, which smoothed my
transition into college and also made me more open to trying new experiences.
Ellery
Freshman
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