There is something truly magical about your first time abroad solo. I was 16 years old studying in Spain for the summer and had my first real significant cultural exchange and independence.

My Spanish studies were important and I went to class for 8 hours a day. However, far more of an impactful was living abroad for the first time. I didn’t know anyone going into the program and I had never been to Spain, but that was exactly what made the experience so significant for me.

I remember getting lost, having to ask for directions, figuring out foreign items on menus, negotiating prices, meeting Spaniards. There is an incredible amount to learn about dealing with ambiguity, about the ability to just figure things out when you’re not quite sure of what you’re doing.

Spain imbibed me with a sense of confidence that I can always figure it out. That things are never too difficult for me to overcome. That life is incredibly interesting and that I need to be out there living it.