Now that I’ve had some rest since returning from Belgium yesterday, I think I can effectively say that my trip through the College of Media’s James Scholar program to Belgium and France was an incredible event that I will remember for the rest of my life.

This trip was the first time I’ve been out of the country. I’ve heard from other people how life-changing of an experience that can be, but mine was extra special since I got to spend it representing the University of Illinois with my close friends and fellow students.

If you want to know someone better, travel with them. I knew many of the other girls who went on the trip beforehand, but after this trip, I learned so much more about them and grew to love them all even more. I am beyond grateful that I got to spend the past week with this group of wonderful and talented girls.

Secondly, the trip opened my eyes to the possibilities of studying abroad. As of yet I haven’t thought too seriously about it, but after seeing how much I can accomplish when I put my mind to it, I know that it is definitely an option. Every time I have traveled, I have had my world opened up to a new one. People live in their own little corners of the world, and when you discover the other little corners that other people live in, it’s pretty amazing.

Now come the barrage of pictures, memories, and times I will say to my friends: “I wish I was back in Belgium!” Now we will all go back to our lives having learned more about the world of journalism thanks to our educational sessions, and about the world itself thanks to the opportunity to travel abroad.

I can’t wait for my next adventure, whether it be in my studies of journalism or (hopefully) in my travels.