Now that my time in London has officially ended, I’ve been reflecting on how much happened in what felt like such a short amount of time. Before leaving, I thought this experience would mainly be about gaining professional experience through my internship—but it became so much more than that.
Over the course of my time in London, I made it a goal to fully embrace every opportunity I could. That meant saying yes to experiences, exploring places outside of my routine, and making connections with people I may never have met otherwise. One of the highlights of my experience was being able to travel to Manchester through my internship, which gave me the chance to see another side of the UK and make memories beyond my day-to-day life in London. Because my placement was with a luxury hotel group, I was able to be sent to our Manchester hotel for a weekend to meet the Manchester team and do some fieldwork for our competitor analysis projects.
What I’ll remember most, though, are the people. I made so many incredible friends from different backgrounds, attended countless fun events and pop-ups around the city, and became genuinely close with my coworkers. What started as an internship quickly became a community. Some of my favorite moments were not necessarily the big landmarks or planned activities, but the spontaneous conversations, after-work outings, and everyday moments that made London begin to feel so familiar and home-like.
Returning has felt different from what I expected. Arriving in London was exciting and unfamiliar, but leaving was difficult because I had built a life there. I realized that returning home is not about going back to the exact person you were before—you bring pieces of your experience back with you.
This experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone in ways I never would’ve imagined. It reminded me that growth happens when you allow yourself to be open: open to new people, new routines, and new ways of seeing the world. Having already lived internationally before, I thought I understood what it meant to adapt across cultures, but this experience showed me that there is always more to learn. My mindset going into this experience really allowed me to savor every second and make the most out of each and every day.
If I could tell someone unsure about studying or interning abroad, I would say this: make the absolute most of it. Say yes to opportunities, talk to people, explore, and allow yourself to fully be there. The experience goes by faster than you think—and the memories, friendships, and confidence you gain stay with you long after you return home. The experience is exactly what you make it!