What is the beauty behind studying abroad? It is that thing that all college students yearn to do during their 4 years at school, but some may not have the opportunity. Well, I can confidently state that studying abroad for 5 weeks over the summer in Athens, Greece, changed me for the rest of my life.
This may sound dramatic, but 5 weeks can do a lot for you as a young woman pursuing her dreams. Ever since I was a little kid, I knew I would have to experience this no matter what. Travel is the only thing you can buy that can make you richer. Now, yes, it is expensive and can be hard to do, but what better time than when young and curious? Travel is an opportunity to expand your horizons, see the world from a different perspective, experience different cultures, and realize that your way of life is just one small way. There is so much we don’t know about ourselves, especially in our twenties, and the only way to find out is by putting ourselves in a completely unknown environment.
I turned 20 on June 6th, 2025, and about a month later, I hopped on a flight to Athens, Greece. I was accepted to the American College of Greece to study Digital Marketing. Luckily, I found this program through my school. Many students travel abroad with friends, but I was going completely alone. I knew in my heart that this was something I needed to do, and I had to push myself outside my comfort zone. I met three girls online from all around the U.S. who were coming to study in the same program, but I had no idea what to expect, only hope.
The first week was the best week of my life. I met three amazing, ambitious young women who were in the same spot as I was. It was like meeting people I’ve known for my whole life. We instantly connected, and it was the best bond I have ever been gifted with. I met so many amazing students from all over the globe searching for that same feeling. It then clicked, people can have so much more depth than the ones in your environment at home. It’s easy to think you know it all in your bubble at home, but in reality, there is so much more out there.
The hardest thing to assimilate into was Greek culture. It was like relearning how to walk. Coming from fast-paced New York, where everything is rushed, the Greeks believe in leisure time. There is no punctuality or being on time. They simply live on their own clock. They sit at meals, drink for hours on end, and take in quiet time. I could not understand why I always felt like I had somewhere to be or rushing to the next place when in reality I didn’t. I had to allow myself to relax. The food, the drinks, and the locals could not have been better. I love how passionate they are about their culture and how willing to share it. It was like walking into a big, open, loving family.
As a young woman, I changed spiritually and emotionally. The feeling of fear, confusion, frustration, and isolation taught me tremendous things about myself. I learned how outgoing I can be, I thrive in uncomfortable situations, I am persistent and true to myself, I am loud, curious, full of ambition, and drive. The most valuable thing to learn was how open-minded and emotionally intelligent I can be. When meeting new people with different backgrounds, different beliefs, and different passions, I finally saw life as a whole zoomed out. It was a wow moment to realize how much of the world there is to see. Your hometown is the piece you cannot choose about yourself, and your future is where you can become the person you really want to be.
