As my time in Dublin draws to a close, I spent plenty of time looking back on the semester and reflecting on my experiences here. My semester at University College Dublin (UCD) was a thrilling roller coaster of emotions, filled with exciting memories of travels with friends and stressful nights working on last-minute papers. I have been fortunate enough to have such an opportunity where I could experience new adventures and events, but I will forever be grateful for the amount of personal growth I underwent throughout the semester.
Before I arrived in Dublin, I was anxious about starting over in an entirely new environment without any familiar faces or friends. I had never lived in another country before, and, since I was living off-campus, I was terrified that I would struggle to make friends or become involved in UCD’s campus life. Soon after the semester started, I learned that taking baby steps was the best way for me to simultaneously become comfortable in a new country and make friends. While I put myself in awkward situations where I interacted with strangers and other students, I felt encouraged knowing that every event I went to meant I was one step closer to building strong, lasting friendships. I also learned how to respond to my needs better, knowing when to push myself to go on a spontaneous day-trip or when to give myself grace for deciding to instead explore my town more. Finally, I came to the realization that it was perfectly acceptable to ask for help, even when I wanted to be independent. Whether it was asking for directions on public transportation or calling one of my friends for advice, I understood that I did not need to always be on my own, especially in a place that was new to me. These experiences were crucial in making my time in Dublin so much more enjoyable and easier to adapt to, as I had a community around me that I had created and fostered on my own.
Now that I am finishing up my semester abroad, I have to overcome an entirely different but equally challenging situation: learning to let go. I had become accustomed to my new routine and environment, familiarizing myself with Dublin and its surrounding towns, counties, and landmarks. However, now that my time abroad is coming to an end, I have to accept that my time here was limited and I will not have an experience like this again. It was a thought that once scared me early on in my program because I grew to love Ireland and its culture, history, and community. I didn’t want to leave so soon after becoming familiar with my new home, nor did I want to leave the friend I had become so close with. I now realize that a part of Ireland will always stay with me, and it makes me cherish my adventures, memories, and friendships even more now. By studying abroad, I changed into a better person, where I am more confident, self-reliant, social, and adaptable to my surroundings. I know I can carry these experiences and skills with me for the rest of my life and help me in the future when I travel or explore new places.
Abigail Cain
Fall 2024
GW Exchange - University College Dublin
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major