As cliché as it sounds, I have changed since studying abroad. Before I left the United States, I didn't quite know what to expect. I simply wanted an adventure, to take a risk, and to try something I had never done before. Upon arriving at my homestay in Barcelona, I found myself literally dropped in a foreign city and very scared for how I was going to get through the four months ahead of me.

Within a few weeks, I turned that fear into confidence and routine. I adapted, I grew, I learned how to function in a situation completely unlike anything I had ever done before. Being so removed from my normal life allowed me to step back and better see who I was as a person. I was happier when I was studying abroad than I ever remember being before. I smiled so much. I discovered who I truly was by doing new and sometimes scary things on my own, conquering them, and coming away with a deeper confidence. My ultimate goal was to become comfortable in uncomfortable situations and I definitely accomplished that goal. When it was time to leave, Barcelona felt like home.

I felt so impressed by how far I had come since I first arrived and I was astounded to realize how well I had come to know the city during my time there. It was so interesting to think about the first time I saw some places and compare that memory to the last time I visited them. They seemed so familiar after four months. It was incredibly hard to leave the places that represented how much Barcelona shaped me. That city changed who I am and gave me so many experiences I will forever cherish. Going into it, I always said that if I could do this--live abroad for four months by myself--then I could do anything. Well I did it. So now I can do anything.