This article was written by Ross Papadakis, a Media and Comms student who has recently returned from two exchange semesters at Lancaster University in the UK.
When I left Australia to study abroad for 12 months, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot, but now, to refer to it as just study abroad seems unjust, because it was so much more than that.
Truthfully, exchange isn’t about locking yourself in a tiny uni dorm and studying your heart out. I look back on the lifelong friendships I made and the experiences we’ve shared; studying abroad is responsible for so many good memories. Not to mention 25 new countries ticked off the bucket list!
Studying abroad was a fresh challenge and a new chance to learn every day. From learning in a new environment, teaching myself how to cook properly, working out how to operate a washer and a dryer to just dealing with funny northern accents. Most importantly, it taught me about being independent and confident on my own.
I’d be lying if I said that Manchester United didn’t influence my decision to study in the very north of the UK. But being only 45 minutes by train to 6-year-old me’s dreams, Lancaster University allowed me to rub shoulders with my passions of both football (soccer) and journalism, watching 30+ games across Europe and the UK in the process.
Visiting different countries and interacting with people from different backgrounds broadened my perspective, opening me up to a whole new lifestyle that I’ll forever be thankful for. The world is full of wonders, rewarding those who are open and willing to embrace new experiences and I have grown in ways I never thought possible all thanks to studying abroad.
Consider participating in a student exchange program overseas.
Contact the Learning Abroad team at studyabroad@latrobe.edu.au for more information.