Entering colleg
e I was so anxious and unsure about everything. I missed my family and friends back home (although they were only a 35 minute drive away) and I don’t think I knew how to handle being an individual on my own for the first time in my life. As I was learning the ropes of college, I went through several ups and downs and during that time swore to myself that I would NEVER study abroad. How would such a thing be possible if being less than 40 minutes away from my hometown was agony to me?
Prior to departing from JFK airport on January 8th I worried for weeks about how this would all go, if I would be able to handle this new experience and being over 3,000 miles away from home. When the day finally arrived I found that my anxiety had vanished and had been replaced with excitement to start this new chapter. Checking my bags and receiving my boarding pass was so surreal I still could not believe the fact that I was about to fly to London, England to live and study for four months.
This Monday January 29th, I will have been here in England for about three weeks. During this time here so far I have visited all of the local tourist attractions., experienced the London pub life, and started my classes (all of which I love very much). I have also found myself completely head over heels in love with London and its fast yet calm and familiar way of life.
I used to depend on close friends or fellow students, looking for a sense of direction through them and other people, but I am reaching a point in my life where I need to be free, I need to be independent, and I need to be myself. I think that is why I chose to study abroad with the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS): I know it was time for me to get out of my comfort zone and allow myself to grow culturally and independently, and I can’t wait to continue that journey here in London.
It is only the beginning and there is so much I am looking forward to within the next 96 days. 
Here are some goals I have set for myself while I am abroad:
- Explore and seek adventure as much as I can
- Make friends from both the U.S. and abroad
- Excel in all of my courses
- Discover who I am and become more independent
- Experience new cultures and food
Theresa Towne is a junior from Naugatuck, CT who majors in Psychology with a concentration in Art Therapy and minors in Global Studies. She is the President of the Art Club at Albertus Magnus College, a member of the Student Alumni Association, and the Student Justice League. After graduating in 2019 she wants to continue her education in grad school and has a goal of working in a mental illness facility or with sexual assault survivors.