Shawn Wall- New Zealand 2014
Race: White
Age at time: 20
When I chose to study abroad I'm still not sure if when I left if I was running towards or away from something. I guess it was a bit of both. I left behind the entire world that I had ever known, and all the baggage (both good and bad) that comes with it. I was, for the first time, fully reliant on no one but myself. You find a whole new you once you get abroad. I like to call this the true “you”. You, without any external influences. The “you” that you show to the world. I first found this part of me when I was in New Zealand. I could escape from the problems of home and just live my life.
While in New Zealand I lived my life to the fullest. I traveled all over that beautiful country, made some very good friends and global connections, and learned both in and out of the classroom. Nearly every weekend was spent traveling. I saw mountains, oceans, plains, rolling hills, filming locations from the Lord of the Rings, and more shooting stars than I was able to keep track of. It is these experiences, memories and friendships that make studying abroad so special. You learn so much more outside of the classroom than in it. By experiencing the way of life in a different country, hearing about other cultures from the other international students, and sharing your own culture with them in return you gain vast amounts of cultural knowledge and create an international network. These friends can become some of your closest connections in your adult life.
Overall, studying abroad was an eye opening experience to someone who couldn't ever imagine living anywhere but Denver. I had the world opened to me and I wanted more. After my study abroad experience I returned to the US with dreams of traveling more and working in international education some day. I have since worked to make both of these dreams come true. After graduation I was able to fulfill the dream of traveling and have been living abroad for the past five and a half years. Now, through Blessed to Be a Blessing, I will be able to fulfill the second dream and work in something I love while providing life changing experiences just like my own for countless Denver Metro Area students. Therefore, if anyone is thinking about studying abroad, has never heard of it but wants to know more, or thinks that they can’t study abroad please get in touch with both B2baB and the study abroad office at your school. It is a huge leap that can be quite scary but can bring you into a whole new stage of life. Go for it!