10 Aug 2023 | 5 mins
Overview
  • Choosing to go on an adventure when you're feeling super comfortable in the life you've made at uni, work, or just general life is incredibly difficult.
  • But you never know which decisions may have the biggest impact on your life.
  • Here are my thoughts and feelings about how far I've made it and how far I have to go before I jump on the flight taking me on my exchange.

So, you’re thinking about going on a university exchange. But what does going on exchange actually look like? I mean, why do people even go on one in the first place? 

Those are all questions I've asked myself in the last 8 months as I've gone on the process of applying and enrolling myself in my exchange program. 

And there's the most obvious answer, it's a semester abroad where you live and study for your uni degree in a different country. Sounds simple, right? 

While some of the decision-making aspects are easy, it has been a long journey for me to find the independence to take my future into my hands and make things happen.

Now if you're not fully convinced, honestly kinda same, and I'm the one that's leaving in a matter of hours. 

It is a kinda scary adventure to take on head first. It will be my first time moving out of home, and it'll be in a country on the other side of the world, without my support system.

The thought that keeps me going is how comfortable I am at this point in my life. A point when I shouldn't be feeling so comfy because there is so much learning I need to go through to become a fully-fledged adult. Being in my twenties I don't want to look back and wish that there was more I could do to discover myself. I don't want to be comfortable, because that means I've taken the easy route. Every so often I should be getting out into the world and taking risks while I still have the time and the opportunities to do so. And that's what exchange means to me. 

There are absolutely mixed feelings about the whole ordeal. Fear of the unknown and of living by myself without my safety net, nerves for all the new people I’m about to meet, and sadness for the friends and family I’m leaving behind.

But most of all it’s the excitement that stands out. It is pretty cool being able to say that I am going to live in a different country for four months.

So here is my final wish, which I hope all of you will help me stay true to for the following four months; I wish that I push myself out of my comfort zone, meet some amazing people and honestly embrace every part of the experience. 

Looking out towards the next four months it looks like the longest four months of my life, but I know that in just a short few weeks it will almost be over and I’ll be looking over this moment with pride. 

If anyone is going to convince you to go on exchange, hopefully, I’ve been the one to do it. It has already been a tough experience just getting to my departure. In the time between submitting my application and departing for exchange, I feel as if I’ve already changed in about a hundred different ways. But I can already see how much it is making me reflect on my life as it stands now. And I am incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to do so.

So get out there and check out your exchange program. You never know how much adventure is waiting for you until you jump head-first into it!