Cara Rossetti, Plus3: Czech Republic Summer 2023
Studying abroad absolutely changed my perspective on my future. I feel so fortunate to have had the ability to travel abroad for the first time this past summer. I expected the trip to be inspiring and perspective altering, but nothing could have prepared me for the amazing experiences and knowledge I gained during my time in the Czech Republic. The Plus3: Czech Republic program taught me so much about international engineering, the Czech culture, and myself. I know for certain that I will travel more in the future, and I have already begun devoting time to learning more about world history and the culture of other places.
I am reluctant to admit that before my trip the Czech Republic I was afraid. No one in my family had even traveled abroad before and I had to lean into my academic advisors and program coordinators greatly for support. I did not know what to expect or how to best gauge my preparedness. Even applying for my passport felt like an intimidating task. However, despite my fear, I have always known that travel is something I must do to better myself as a person. Thanks to this trip, there is no more fear. Being in a new and utterly unfamiliar place can be overwhelming, but once I understood that I was fully capable and equipped to undertake this adventure, I felt overwhelmed with excitement. The world is so big, and I can’t wait to see and learn about all of it.
I would say my time abroad not only invigorated my desire to see more of the world but also to learn more about it. I intend to learn a second language because of my time in the Czech Republic. I have been much more interested in world history, politics, and the cultural practices of places that are vastly different from the one I call home. If my career permits, I would love to work abroad for some amount of time so I can better understand business and engineering practices on an international level. This was not a goal I expected to arise, but as a consequence of visiting many Czech companies during my program, I am newly very eager to learn more about their operations. Thanks to my time abroad, I am invigorated to learn and try new things.
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