16 Months Later: Reflections on Study Abroad

As I write this, 487 days have passed since my study abroad program at University of St Andrews in Scotland ended, and I will forever be grateful for this experience. It is hard to put into words all I gained from navigating a new country, city, university, and learning environment. But I think what made the semester truly special was the community I built.  

108 days that changed my life   

In Scotland, I gained friendships with people from my home university, people from colleges across the U.S., and students from University of St Andrews who came from all over the world to study there. I feel very lucky to have explored new places and met incredible people.  

To me, the real benefit of a school like St Andrews is the opportunity to become deeply immersed in student life. In fact, unless I announced it, nobody there knew that I was a visiting student. This made my experience even more special because it allowed me to start over and get involved in a new community. 

Staying connected after study abroad  

At St Andrews, I had the chance to join university clubs and attend events hosted by various academic societies, just like any other student. For example, joining the swim team allowed me to feel a sense of belonging and form long-lasting connections. In fact, in the spring of 2025, I was invited to attend an alumni weekend for the swim team.  

During this visit, I caught up with old friends and met more alumni who had previously been on the team. In the span of less than a year, I had gone from being a semester-long study abroad student to team alum. I feel very fortunate to have found a group of people who not only welcomed me while I was studying abroad but continue to involve me even though I am 3,000 miles away.  

This experience reinforced the importance of putting yourself out there and not being afraid to meet new people. When I left the U.S. to start my study abroad journey, I had no idea what to expect. I think that’s part of the reason why I enjoyed that semester so much.  

Thinking about study abroad?  

If you are thinking of studying abroad, I encourage you to do research to discover the types of programs you are interested in and explore what you hope to get out of this experience. Remember, what you take away could be so much greater than what you learned in class or the places you visited.  

I now have a place that I can continue to return to and friends all over the world that are a part of my story, all because I took the opportunity to study at the University of St. Andrews.  

Emma F. | Colby College | University of St Andrews, Scotland | Fall 2024