I’ll never forget the moment the plane touched down in Spain. 

 

In the summer after my junior year at Auburn University, I had the opportunity to travel to Seville, Spain for five weeks. I lived with a Spanish host family, took classes in a Spanish school and traveled on weekends. It was a unique experience and one that truly pushed me out of my comfort zone. 

 

When we landed in Seville, I knew my months of preparation had led up to this moment. All the money I had saved, pictures I had looked at and bags I had packed had led me here. Over the next month, I would immerse myself in a new culture, make dozens of new friends and take classes that would show me a whole new perspective of public relations. I truly believe that my time abroad made me a better student and future job applicant. Here’s why. 

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I like to think that my time in Spain shaped me in two different areas of my life that go hand in hand. On one side, I grew academically. While abroad, international public relations and nonprofit public relations were the classes offered. Normally, both classes would be taken over an entire semester, but for the purpose of our program were condensed to be covered in just five weeks. I learned about public relations in a way I never had before through class discussions and site visits. 

 

Site visits happened 2-3 times per week and were relevant to one of our classes each time. Touring local businesses and meeting the people who run them added an invaluable layer to my education. Hearing about their business model, communications strategy and crisis plans offered insight you just can’t get only sitting in a classroom. After learning about public relations for three years in my Auburn classes, it was incredibly interesting to learn how PR differed abroad. Meeting with real businesses in Spain expanded my network and gave me a more well-rounded view of the profession.

 

One of the biggest contributing factors to my learning in this environment was the people I was with. After being together basically non-stop for five weeks, all 17 of us and our two professors got very close. Because of this, there was no fear of embarrassment in class. Everyone was able to speak freely knowing it was a safe space. This made for not only meaningful discussions but also lifelong friends. 

 

On the flip side of the coin is how Spain shaped me personally. Signing up for this trip went against everything I knew. Living with a host family in a country where I barely spoke the language was enough to make me sweat just thinking about it. Despite this, I practiced my Spanish and got on the plane anyway. 

 

Though I have always thought of myself as a very independent person, this trip stretched my independence. Being abroad stripped back all my normal securities and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I learned to enjoy the unknown and be comfortable in the uncomfortable, and because of this, I got to experience some really amazing things. I traveled to seven different Spanish cities and saw everything they had to offer. From food to cathedrals to coffee shops, I can confidently say I did it all. 

 

Now that I’m back in the US, I am proud of the way I took full advantage of the opportunities I was afforded, both academically and personally. I know studying abroad is a privilege and a luxury, but it is truly something I wish every person could experience. I am better because of Spain.