Grateful is an understatement. I've been back in the U.S. for three days and as I reflect on my study abroad experience, that is the word that keeps coming to mind. Studying abroad is often described as the most amazing time of your life. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity filled with growth, new memories, and adventure. While I would absolutely agree with that, I also think it's important to recognize that studying abroad is not without its difficulties. In my previous blog post, I shared how much I missed my community at home. There were moments I felt overwhelmed, homesick, or just out of place. Studying abroad stretches you out of your comfort zone, and that can be uncomfortable. However, I think that discomfort is where growth happens. It should not feel unsafe, but it will feel unfamiliar, and that's not a bad thing.
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My final day in Italy was fully of both happy and sad tears. I was so grateful for the friendships I had made and everything I had experienced, but I was also incredibly sad to leave. That day felt like a capstone moment. Even though I had spent parts of the trip feeling homesick and counting down the days, on the last day I realized just how fast the time had gone and felt a bit of regret that I hadn't soaked it in more fully. I think someone with a similar background to mine would likely feel a similar mix of emotions as I did. As a first-generation PathwayOregon student and the daughter of immigrants, being able to spend nearly three months abroad was something I never imagined possible. It still doesn't feel real sometimes. I am beyond thankful to my parents for encouraging me to pursue opportunities that people from our background don't always have access to and for loudly supporting me every step of the way.
As a student who works in the GEO office, I'm passionate about helping other marginalized students believe that they can do this too. These ten weeks were hard at times. Some moments felt uncomfortable and emotionally challenging. But these ten weeks were also deeply fulfilling, joyful, and transformative. As I cried on my last day in Siena, I was overwhelmed by how much I had come to love being here and how blessed I was to have had such a profound experience. If someone with similar identities to mine is on the fence about going abroad, I would tell them that it won't always be easy. However, you will also grow in ways you never imagined, and the friendships and memories you make will stay with you forever.
Grateful, truly, doesn't even begin to cover it.
Sarah Shewaye, Diverse Ducks Ambassador