February 7th, 2018
What are you most nervous about?
The most nerve-racking aspect of my upcoming abroad experience would have to be navigating the airport alone. Every time I have flown on an airplane I have been accompanied by either my grandfather or my parents. Not only was I guided by a trustworthy adult, I had also remained inside of the country. Navigating the airport from an international perspective will be challenging, however, I have ensured an adequate amount of layover time in case I get lost! In addition to traveling alone for the first time, I will also be experiencing my longest stay away from home. I have never found it difficult to ensure transportation to/from home and my university because of the feasible driving distance. This semester I will be essentially a day away from the comforts of my friends, family, and pets. As this may be a huge modification for me in my young adult life, I am looking forward to blossoming from it as a wiser individual.
My nerves will be further tested when I am surrounded by international strangers. I am extremely antisocial and introverted, so opening up to unfamiliar individuals always seems to intimidate me. Learning to challenge my introverted tendencies will ultimately help me to develop new connections and improve my social skills. Alongside being introverted, I am also exceedingly studious. I fear that shifting from America's education system to Australia's will be a difficult adjustment considering they provide fewer opportunities for grade improvement. They also log scores cumulatively, meaning that my grade will begin at 0% (USA: 100%) and augment from there. I hope that my discomfort regarding failing every course initially won't discourage my subsequent academic motivation.