The University’s Study Abroad Office has more options than any globetrotting adventurer could ever possibly need. From Kenya to the United Kingdom to India to Brazil, students at the University have enough options to get their heads spinning and their excitement travelling — quite literally — in every direction around the globe.

And I don’t think students should leave this opportunistic University — or time in their lives — without catapulting themselves in at least one of those directions.

For many, study abroad will be the pinnacle of an undergraduate career, as it offers an opportunity to experience and learn from another culture, to become immersed in a language, to push one’s self beyond the limits of a comfort zone, and to act as a true test of adventurousness and independence, hang out on the brim of the unknown and the uncertain and to learn from it.   

However, like most things in life, college will, too, come to an end, and your study abroad experience will seem an ephemeral moment that slipped through your fingertips.

I haven’t left for my study abroad program yet, and I can already feel myself relishing in the had-been moments of life across the pond. 

I would encourage students to plan for their abroad experience, but to also remember that you don’t have to have it all figured out freshman year. Study abroad was on my mind before I even arrived at college. I mean, anything with the word “abroad” has always kind of perked me up ever since my first trip outside of the U.S. I love learning languages and about other cultures and foods and anything and everything that comes along with seeing the world. So, pardon me while I take that travel-obsessed opinion and continue on my soapbox.

I suggest adapting to your new environment on campus prior to taking steps toward studying abroad. Take your first year here to get acclimated at college, to learn about yourself and to find your place in a new community. This takes time. If you’re like me, the study abroad fantasies will be popping up from the back of your mind. Part of having wanderlust is being aware of your attachment to a place and having the ability to let it go so that you can both let yourself go a little bit more and continue into the unknown.

College is short. Spending a year or two here and then a year abroad can seem disruptive. But I think it’s worth it, even if you are a transfer student. There’s a way to make it work.

I almost didn’t make my plans to study abroad, even though it was always on my mind. Graduation was nearing, and I looked at myself crossing over the bridge to the life of a college graduate. I knew something wasn’t happening as I had wanted. 

We won’t get this time back.

Regardless of how many times you change your major, question your major, think about transferring, think about taking a semester off or think about how study abroad might not be worth the money or the extra semester or even the year that you might have to take to work this into your plans, or how you don’t totally understand life yet or what you’re even doing with yours half of of the time, do it. 

Take a risk. 

I do not expect my study abroad experience to be some series of moments featuring me on a romantic mountaintop collecting the blissful, unclouded rays of sunlight and just dreaming worriless thoughts about the gelato I will eat later whilst my homework completes itself, or the cool, once-in-a-lifetime volunteer opportunity that I will somehow find after my life-changing voyage through the rainforest. No.

I expect it to be hard. I expect it to be a wonderful challenge; I foresee a trip across the globe marked by struggle and confusion and misspoken French sentences. I foresee myself tripping over ancient streets because I’m too accustomed to the pavement of Champaign, but I also foresee myself tripping over what I think I already know, only to learn how much I don’t.

These expectations, however full of lofty desires, are why I think everyone should study abroad if they can.

You don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s the beauty of it.

Pump the breaks. Take the time to build your life and grow beyond what you already know. In my experience, there’s no greater learning that can take place in life than being tossed about by your own curiosity, questions, confusions and all the mistakes they may bring.

Whatever it is that you are searching for, the Study Abroad Office has a convenient advanced search engine on its website to help you find your way.

It allows you to break down your travel needs and wishes by countless categories: country, city, region, term, partner institutions, academic area, language of instruction as well as language requirement, internship, housing, non-Illinois student options, Illinois sponsor and even credit and not-for-credit programs.

The programs are divided by region, and each region has an advisor. The advisors are willing to talk to you about your plans, and help you find the place that is best for you. Peer advisors, current students at the University who have completed study abroad, are also there to help guide students and give feedback. 

Katie is a senior in LAS. She can be reached at [email protected].