If I met my First-year college self now, I wouldn’t recognize her.

Who I was three years ago is not who I am now.

I credit this to my study abroad semester in Uppsala, Sweden.

Studying abroad has been my most formative experience to date.

It taught me how to be more independent, self-sufficient, more confident, and an extrovert.

You’ll often hear people say that their biggest regret in college was not studying abroad or their greatest memories from their college days was from their time abroad.

I’ve heard people say both of these things for as long as I can remember.

Because of this, I wanted to make sure that I would never have that same regret post-grad.

You’ve probably heard the benefits before, but they’re true.

These benefits have been proven over and over again.

The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), a study away program provider, surveyed all of their students who have participated in their programs either for a full year, a semester, or a summer program.

Over 95 percent of all IES students reported that their levels of self-confidence improved significantly during their experiences as well as increased levels of maturity, and impacted their view of the world.

Over 71 percent acquired skills that influenced their intended career path and over 60 percent found a career path they followed after their abroad experience.

But these are just the statistics, so I want to tell you about my experience.

Immersing myself into an unknown culture helped me open up my mind in a way I wouldn’t have been able to do had I not studied abroad.

Foods I used to hate, I now like.

I’ve traveled to a country I had never heard of, and many more I had previously only dreamed of going to.

There are even more personal benefits that I have gained from my experience.

I have made friends all over the world who have taught me lessons that will last a lifetime.

Now that I have these friends, I have a reason to visit these places (and crash on their couch).

I made friends from Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Sweden, and other parts of the United States and studied with students from Turkey, Greece, the UK, and many more.

When applying to study at Uppsala University in Sweden, I had no idea what I was signing myself up for.

It threw me into an unknown place where I didn’t know the culture, the people, or what I had gotten into.

I was able to meet my Swedish relatives and visit my family’s farm that has been passed down since 1865.

We’ve always stayed in touch since my great-grandfather immigrated to the United States, but now I have my own personal connection with them.

My eight-year-old cousin invited me to spend a day with him at his Swedish elementary school as a guest in his English class, which made me feel like a celebrity surrounded by awestruck kids who were shocked that I had come all the way from the U.S. to be with them.

This past January, I interned at The American Chamber of Commerce in Sweden (AmCham).

Not only did this job help me figure out a dream career path but I had the opportunity to work with people of all backgrounds, nationalities, and industries.

During my first week working there, AmCham was invited to a celebration for the French-Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s 100th Anniversary at the French Ambassador to Sweden’s residence.

Where else would I get the chance to go to something like that?

At the end of my internship, I did something I’ve always wanted to do and something I didn’t do while I was gone for a semester.

I took a solo trip to Paris.

I encourage everyone who studies abroad in the future to take a solo trip.

This supplemented my abroad experience as it threw new obstacles my way that I didn’t have to deal with in Sweden.

I got lost in an unknown city where I didn’t know the language, had to deal with the buses shutting down because of snow, which Paris rarely gets, no cell service, and had to become comfortable eating alone in public and so much more.

Having to think on my feet made me grow because I had to think fast to figure out how to get back to my hostel, without WiFi, not being able to read the metro’s maps, or ask someone.

A lot of people were shocked when I said I took a solo trip because they said they couldn’t imagine traveling to an unknown place by themselves.

I did this as a challenge to myself by forcing myself out of my comfort zone, just to prove to myself that I could do it.

Now, I can confidently say that I have no regrets from my abroad experience.

I may have less money in the bank, but I can’t deny I was living my best life and that is something I’ll never forget.