As I come to the end of my study abroad journey, there are a couple things I want to share with those that are considering studying abroad in the future.
Your study abroad experience will be entirely what you make of it. It is not always easy to be away from home or without your circles of support, but if you lean into the experience of being abroad you create a new home, new lovely friends that become another support system. Among the many cherished memories that my year in London has bestowed upon me, the friendships I have cultivated undoubtedly stand out as some of the most profound and enduring. LSE is an incredible university, but even more incredible are the students that attend it. Students come from all around the world to go to LSE, creating an extremely diverse and inspiring student body with a plethora of life experiences and interests that can ignite new curiosities in you. I urge future LSE study abroad students from GW to make friends outside of the General Course, to expand your horizons and allow different perspectives to color your experience.
My closest friends at LSE are a group of amazingly energetic, ridiculous, intelligent, slay people from all around the world. Together, we traveled to Malaga and ate all the tapas we could get our hands on. We have spent nights out dancing and laughing until we're crying. We have eaten nearly every dinner together filled with stimulating conversations about politics, love lives, and the future. We are taking our end of year trip to Lisbon and subsequently Greece to soak up as much time together as possible. The General Course is a unique experience as it is a year-long program, allowing the time to form connections that I promise will last a lifetime. If you are planning to stay abroad, or you are unsure and need some convincing, let this be your sign. Take the chance to study abroad and expose yourself to the uncomfortable experience it can sometimes be. Because, if you allow them in, the friends you meet will make any challenge completely gratifying.
Taja Nadeau
GW England - London School of Economics (GW Study Program)
Academic Year 2022
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major