By Riley Blankenship

Over a month ago, I took a leap of faith and boarded a plane for my studying abroad semester at Maastricht University in the Netherlands for the next six months. Leaving Greensboro behind meant stepping into the unknown without knowing what would happen next. It also meant opening the door to new opportunities, perspectives and challenges that I do not believe I could have experienced anywhere else. Just like many students preparing for study abroad, I was ecstatic but that was also met with nervousness and worry. Ever since I was a kid, I always knew I wanted to explore the world and when I started college I knew at some point during my time I was going to study abroad. What I did not factor in though the routines I was leaving behind, friendships that I have had for years and the comfort that comes with living in a place you know like the back of your hand, I realized studying abroad is as much about taking a risk as it is also exploring a new place.

When I first arrived in Maastricht, I was amazed by the city’s historic architecture and international atmosphere. Located in the southern part of the Netherlands near the borders of Belgium and Germany, the city is filled with cobblestone streets, centuries-old architecture and a large student population from across Europe and beyond. In my first few weeks here, I have found myself surrounded by languages, cultures and perspectives that were very different from what I was used to back in North Carolina. Even everyday routines began to look different whether it was navigating the Dutch train system, biking across the city like many locals do or simply adjusting to a slower café culture. Those early moments of adjustment quickly reminded me that studying abroad is not just about attending classes in another country, but about learning how to live in an entirely new environment.

I knew before arriving in Maastricht that I did not want to step away from journalism during my semester abroad. For the past three years, I have been involved with The Collegian, where my writing and reporting have become some of the most meaningful parts of my college experience. That background made me extremely curious about what student journalism looked like outside the U.S. Shortly after arriving, I discovered the Maastricht Diplomat Journal, a student publication connected to the university. Deciding to apply felt like another small leap of faith, but one that quickly paid off when I was accepted onto the paper’s editorial board. Joining the newsroom has given me the opportunity to continue developing my skills while also seeing how student media operates in a completely different academic environment.

Another part of studying abroad that has already had a major impact on my experience is the opportunity to travel and see parts of Europe that once felt very far away. In just over a month, I have had the chance to visit cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Madrid. Each place offered something unique, from the historic streets and political significance of Brussels and getting the chance to visit a prospective grad school Vrije Universiteit Brussels, to the canals and culture of Amsterdam. Traveling to Barcelona and Madrid introduced me to the vibrant atmosphere of Spain, where the architecture, food and pace of life felt far from what I had experienced in the Netherlands. Visiting these cities has helped me understand how diverse Europe truly is, each place carrying its own identity, history and traditions. Seeing those differences firsthand adds another dimension to studying abroad.

These experiences have shown me that studying abroad is about much more than traveling or taking classes in another country. It is about growing as a person, having more independence and learning to navigate unfamiliar situations. For students who may be considering studying abroad but feel hesitant, it is important to know that feeling nervous is completely normal. Before leaving for Maastricht, I had many of the same worries about leaving home, being far from friends and family and adjusting to an entirely new environment. Those fears do not disappear overnight; however, they often become part of what makes the experience so meaningful. Living in another country pushes you to adapt, to see the world from different perspectives and to discover strengths you might not have realized you had. In the end, the uncertainty that comes with stepping outside your comfort zone is often what leads to the most memorable and transformative parts of the journey.