Give yourself a chance
While preparing for the exchange semester in Bradford, England, I had high hopes of a vibrant life full of happy memories and meaningful connections. I imagined that this was my chance to experience something special, that this journey would divide my life into 'before' and 'after' and help me discover who I really am and what I am aiming for.
I never considered it could go any other way.
It took me a while to get used to the new pace, to get to know the people around me and to figure out the mundane aspects of life.
As I was getting used to the layout of the campus, finding nearby grocery stores, exploring the city centre, and adjusting to my timetable, I didn’t even notice the first month of my exchange go by...
I had wasted a month of the semester getting into a routine, and barely made any memories on a trip that was supposed to be life-defining. With three months to go, an irrational fear of missing out took over every aspect of my life. It felt like time was slipping away from me and there was nothing I could do to prevent it. While I was carried away by routine, everyone around me seemed to have already found their place, and I was left without a chance to integrate myself into an already established world. After constantly comparing myself to others, I ended up feeling lost and discouraged.
This negative mindset followed me everywhere. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape it. If I had already missed out on so much, what was the point in trying? As a result, for a while I felt confined to my small dorm room and struggled to engage with the outside world.
The only thing that would break this cycle was human connection. Through small interactions, the people around me would break through my thoughts like rays of sunshine and allow me to see the situation for what it really was. Many have struggled with adapting to a new environment in their own unique ways, and by having these conversations, they gave me a chance I had refused to give myself.
It didn't matter if it took me longer than others to adapt to the new environment - that didn’t mean I had to give up.
This realization marked the beginning of my actual adventure.
I found ways to meaningfully spend my time, having already explored every corner of Bradford I started regularly traveling around the UK:
