I would easily say that my study abroad year was by far the best year I had at university, thanks to the travel, the people and the freedom. Getting off the plane with all your baggage and as you walk out of the airport that feeling of “10 months, here we go”. It will open your eyes to the big world, and it's so much more than just going on holiday somewhere. Living somewhere, even as a student, takes you a few layers deeper into the experience.
What really struck me about the US was the diversity of lives people lived. I knew people that would go out hunting at the weekend to feed their families, whilst others wouldn’t even dream of even going down the meat aisle at the local Walmart. Others would go on road trips for multiple weeks, but the best part was, all of them were more than happy to take you along on every adventure. I also got the opportunity to travel a lot whilst I was there, both with friends and with complete strangers. It gave me the ability to see a path I want to walk down, instead of having to wait for someone else to want to go down that path too. I am confident to explore it on my own, whether that be going on a holiday or getting a job that takes me away from home.
Studying abroad has changed my life, by making me hungry for more adventure. I no longer want to get a job in the place I am from and settle down immediately - I want to go out into the big world, not just in my personal life, but in my professional life. I firmly believe it was one of the main enabling factors that gave me the confidence and desire to join the Royal Navy as a Commissioned Officer in the Weapons Engineering branch. My job now keeps my life fresh and just outside of my comfort zone, and helps me become comfortable with being just a little uncomfortable.
Kayman Lewis Johnson, MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Study Abroad)