Unpacking the Gifts of Study Abroad in Ireland
As I pack up my dorm room and take one last walk through Galway, I鈥檓 reflecting on more than just the items I鈥檓 cramming into my suitcase. This journey has left me with something intangible that will outlast souvenirs and photos. I thought the hardest part would be saying goodbye to Ireland, but in truth, the greater challenge has been returning home as a version of myself I鈥檓 still learning to explain鈥攅specially since home has changed, too.
Preparing to return
I was lucky to have my parents visit in late April and it was a breath of fresh air. We traveled around Galway and Dublin, caught up on each other鈥檚 lives, and goofed around. That visit made me realize just how much things have shifted. In the nearly five months I鈥檝e been away, so much has changed鈥攚ithin my family, my city, even the country, politically, economically, and socially.I鈥檓 not returning to the same place I left in December.
To prepare, I鈥檝e made a conscious effort to stay connected鈥攖exting and calling friends, keeping up with my home college through email and news. I know I can鈥檛 fully prepare for the adjustment and that鈥檚 okay. Studying abroad has given me tools to navigate change with confidence and clarity.
Learning to take up space
In Ireland, I spoke up in new ways鈥攁sking for help, asserting my needs, and making solo plans without overthinking them. A year ago, I might have hesitated or stayed quiet out of uncertainty. But I鈥檝e learned that taking up space isn鈥檛 about being the loudest person in the room鈥攊t鈥檚 about believing I deserve to be there. That quiet confidence is something I鈥檓 proud to bring home, and I plan to carry it into classrooms, conversations, and everyday life.
Reframing first-gen identity
Before studying abroad, being a first-gen student often felt like a disadvantage. I saw it as something that made me different, like I was constantly trying to catch up. But being immersed in a diverse international community helped shift that perspective. I began to see my first-gen identity as a strength, not a gap. I鈥檝e worked harder for every step, and that makes each milestone more meaningful.My resilience is rooted in that experience, and it鈥檚 something I carry with a bit more pride.
Redefining success
Studying abroad has also changed how I define success. I used to chase external validation鈥攇rades, approval, rigid plans. But abroad, I learned to trust myself more and let go of the need for constant validation. I didn鈥檛 come back with a five-year plan鈥攁nd that鈥檚 okay. I gained a deeper sense of courage, a willingness to ask 鈥渨hat鈥檚 next?鈥 without fear, and the freedom to imagine success on my own terms.
The best souvenir
The most valuable things I鈥檝e brought home can鈥檛 be packed in a suitcase. I鈥檓 returning with a stronger mindset, deeper self-trust, and a voice that鈥檚 grown louder through experience. I came abroad searching for clarity and confidence, and I鈥檝e found both鈥攏ot by becoming someone else, but by growing more fully into myself. This journey didn鈥檛 change me鈥攊t gave me the space to thrive.
Alyssa H. | Trinity College, Connecticut |聽University of Galway Partnership, Ireland | Spring 2025