Full Academic Year in England, WHATUP!

So tomorrow I have my big interview with a faculty member who will decide my fate next year… I’m fairly terrified. I want to get it over so I can just KNOW. This is nineteen years of build up. I can’t really think straight. I’m trying to go to sleep but I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. Actually, now that I think about it, it’s quite similar, except instead of waiting for Santa, I’m waiting for someone to grant all my dreams of living in England.

Goodnight.

Love,

Sally

            I have always wanted to be a world traveler.  My bucket list has so many places that I want to see that I would need to travel for most of my life to check them all off.  England has been a dream of mine ever since I first heard the family legend of my great-grandmother’s journey from England on the first ship to sail after the tragic fate of the Titanic.  According to my grandmother, she saw the very iceberg that led to the Titanic’s demise.  My grandmother also described my great-grandmother’s British customs that dictated my grandmother’s early life—the term “rubbish” is a favorite in our family. Since then, I have fallen in love with British culture—from the films, to the television, and especially the music.  In both professional and personal areas, studying in England would be a privilege and a pleasure.

            I am currently a student in the Manship School of Mass Communication.  I am focusing in the area of Public Relations. With my degree I hope to work for a record label, music venue, or music festival, working in the promotions department and talent recruitment areas.  I have worked at the student radio station here, KLSU, as a DJ for three semesters and this semester I am the Social Media Director and I am continuing my weekly specialty show, “Look Alive! with DJ Bambi,” where I keep listeners up-to-date on opportunities to see live music in and around Baton Rouge.  Working for KLSU and in my show in particular has taught me much about artist relations and the challenges artists face in America when trying to get their music heard.  I plan on applying to work at the student radio station at whatever university I attend in the hopes of broadening my understanding of the culture of independent music all over the world.  This experience would give me a competitive edge in the job market in addition to providing me with an amazing opportunity to make connections with artists all around the world.  The cities and schools that I have chosen to apply to were chosen for those very reasons—they would put me smack in the hub of culture and music in the United Kingdom, which would afford a multitude of opportunities for me to make connections, learn more, and experience the live music I like to promote to others.  In addition, upon my return to the United States, I fully intend on returning to my show at KLSU and I could bring back music that may not have been heard of otherwise.

            Furthermore, the most important aspect of any job in the field of public relations is making connections. I’ve always been good at making conversation with almost anyone I meet. When I go abroad I will be with all kinds of students from all over the world; I will be taking classes with people not only from England but also from France, Australia, India, and even other parts of America. This will allow me to make worldwide connections that will make me desirable in the job market.

            I have loved to travel ever since I was little. My grandparents live across the country, though, so most of our family vacations have been to Washington State and Oregon to spend time with them. Studying abroad in England gives me a unique opportunity to travel all over Europe. I will never again have the chance to live in England at minimal cost without the responsibility of a job to keep me busy!  The only other time I have been able to travel abroad was on a school-sponsored trip to France. While we got to see all of the high points—the Eiffel Tower, Arch du Triomphe, etc., there are certain drawbacks to going abroad with a group of thirty sixteen year olds.  Now that I am older I would be able to be my own guide through Italy, Greece, Spain and wherever else my travels may take me.

I was lucky enough to test out of twenty hours when I came to Spring Invitational at Louisiana State University and I have been trying to save all of my electives for this time abroad. I will be able to go abroad for a whole year and still graduate on time, something I did not even think was possible. I have worked hard to keep my grades up and that is not something I will neglect to do abroad; doing well in school has always been a top priority for me no matter what side of the ocean I am on.

I am also confident in my ability to adjust to life overseas. As my mother has said to me time and time again, I could talk to a brick wall.  Whether that is a valuable skill (or not) has yet to be determined but it does mean that I will have no problem talking to my “flatmates” or people in my classes.  I am confident in my abilities to branch out and make friends and meet people inside and outside of my school community.  Even though many of my friends from high school attended LSU with me, I have made it a point to branch out and I have made many friends outside of my comfort zone for that reason.  I have no doubt that I can do that again with an even broader range of people.  I find people different from me the most interesting and I think there’ll be plenty of people that are extremely different!

Finally, all logical reasons aside, I have felt an attraction to England for as far back as I can remember.  Whether it was the songs of Julie Andrews in “Mary Poppins” or the enchanting tale of Harry Potter or perhaps something even more deep-set than that, I have felt the desire to visit England for years. In fact, the study abroad program was one of the most attractive qualities about LSU when I was applying; not only was studying abroad available, it was also encouraged!  The ease of applying and supportive nature of the staff has made me all the more confident in my decisions.

I would be disappointed in myself if I did not take a chance at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and use it to realize the dreams I have always had of living in England.  This year abroad will benefit me professionally, personally and spiritually.  I am confident that I will adjust well and quickly, and there is no doubt in my mind that I will have an amazing time.  In fact the only problem I foresee will be getting me on that plane back to America!

I’m turning in all my paperwork tomorrow or Wednesday, and I’ve been talking about it with some of my friends, letting them know of my plans and whatnot… It’s getting me really excited.

This is something I’ve dreamed about doing for— literally— as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved England, and I’ve always known I wanted to go there. Now that the reality of it is creeping closer, I’m not entirely sure what to do with myself. The opportunity to go abroad for a year and still graduate on time is rare; I’m extremely lucky.

I’m also scared.

A year is a hell of a long time; it’s weird to think of my life going on without me here. My friends will slowly adjust to me not being around. Will they forget about me? When I come back, will they remember? Will I be welcomed back?

I know it’s silly and selfish, but I worry that maybe if I leave I might not come back to the same place I left— or as the same person I left as. Change is scary.

This is going to be the very first time that I’m going somewhere away from home, not knowing a single soul. It’s going to be up to me to make friends and to branch out. 

I’ll be over there for my birthday. The first time I won’t see my mom on my birthday in twenty years!

I’m scared, yeah. But more than that… I’m excited.

This blog will be to help me to remember all of the adventures I go on while I’m abroad. It’ll also be to give everyone back at home updates. For now, I’ll just be updating periodically with information about departure and news about the official word on what university I’ll be attending.

Love,

Sally