“Studying abroad is truly an experience unlike any other.”

I heard this all the time before leaving. From my friends, my parents, my sister, my cousins, everyone said it. Every time, I would just laugh and say, “I know, I cannot wait.” I was excited, of course, but I never really believed it would change me or completely shift my perspective on life. I thought it would just be a fun few months, something I would look back on and smile about. I did not realize it would become something that would forever change who I am as a person.

Before going abroad, I was honestly very content. I loved my college town, being around the same friends, and having my routine. There was something so comforting about knowing exactly what my days would look like, where I would be, and who I would be with. I have always been someone who likes structure and stability, so stepping into something so unknown, where nothing is guaranteed and everything is constantly changing, made me a little nervous. I was excited, but deep down I did not fully understand how much I was about to grow.

Then it all began. Living out of a suitcase, packing and unpacking almost every weekend, late nights spent booking flights and figuring out train schedules, trying to communicate in a different language, getting lost and finding my way again. There were moments that felt overwhelming and exhausting, moments where things did not go as planned. But somehow, those moments became just as meaningful as the perfect ones.

In between all of that, there were moments that felt so special in a way I cannot fully explain. The kind you cannot always plan for, and the kind you only experience when you let go a little and just live in it.

I learned that life is so much bigger than your comfort zone. I became more independent than I ever thought I could be. I learned how to stay calm when things go wrong, how to be flexible, how to go with the flow instead of trying to control everything. I learned how to trust myself. I learned how to carry less and still experience so much more.

More than anything, I became more appreciative. Of the little moments, of the people around me, of the fact that this is my life and I get to live it fully. I started to slow down and really take everything in, the streets, the views, the laughter, the quiet moments in between, all preserved through an Instagram photobook that captures these everyday memories. I realized how lucky I am, not just to be here, but to feel everything so deeply. 

The best part is, I did not have to do any of it alone. I got to experience all of this with my best friends, which made everything feel even more special. Many of these favorite memories are captured in a TikTok favorite memories collection, reflecting the moments that meant the most. There is something so indescribable about sharing these moments with people you love, laughing until you cannot breathe, getting ready together before going out, sitting together after a long day and talking about everything and nothing at the same time. These are the moments I will miss the most. Not just the places, but the people and the way it all felt.

One of my favorite quotes has always been, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” I always liked it, but I never truly understood it until now. These past few months, I have done things I never could have imagined. From kayaking through the lakes of Switzerland, to snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Capri, to hugging the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Moments that felt so surreal, like I had to pause and remind myself that this was actually my life.

But what makes it all so special is not just what I did, it is who I became along the way.

Studying abroad, and Florence, gave me more than just memories. It gave me a new version of myself. A more confident, more open, more present version. It showed me that I am capable of so much more than I ever gave myself credit for. It reminded me to say yes more, to embrace the unknown, and to appreciate every moment for what it is, even when it is not perfect, as reflected in a YouTube video capturing keepsakes, lessons, and memories shaped throughout the experience.

I think the hardest part is knowing that this is all going to end soon. That one day this chapter will close, and the streets I walk every day, the views that have become so familiar, and the little routines I have built here will no longer be part of my everyday life, just memories I look back on. Maybe that is exactly what makes it all so meaningful, the fact that it doesn’t last forever.

Because even when this experience ends, the person it shaped will not.

That is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

With love,

Skyler Klein, Isabelle Fink, & Jordan Braxton