After months of applying, planning, and emailing back and forth with my Programme director at Cambridge, I cannot believe that my study abroad journey is finally beginning. For those of you who don't know (which probably isn't many of you by now), I will be studying at the University of Cambridge as a part of the Pembroke-Kings Summer Programme (PKP) for six weeks. My family and I are headed to London a week before my classes start, and I am beyond lucky to have some familiar faces with me while I start to get used to all things British!
As I sit at the airport in Charlotte waiting to board my much-awaited plane to London Heathrow, I'm feeling a mix of so many emotions. First and foremost, I can barely contain my excitement and anticipation for all the incredible experiences (and views) that the UK is going to bring me. I found out that I was admitted to this program back in October, so I have been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for this day to come. Along with excitement, I also feel nervous. It's not that I'm nervous of having a great time or nervous that I won't make friends (if you know me, you know I could talk to a wall), it's more so apprehension of the unknown. As soon as I start to feel this emotion, I remember something that I've always told myself. You're only nervous because you care. Only in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined attending a university like Cambridge. During the past two years of undergrad, I have pursued a major that is not for the light-hearted (Cellular and Molecular Biology, and trust me, the classwork is actually just as scary as it sounds). I have worked harder than I ever thought I could, and pushed myself further as a student-athlete every single day. When I received my acceptance letter from Cambridge (I still couldn't believe Cambridge was sending ME a letter), I felt immediate validation that my hard work has been paying off. This experience truly feels like a reward for those long nights in the library, and studying in a hotel room at a golf tournament. As soon as I feel the nerves creep up, I remember how much I care about how hard I worked to get here, and how much I'm going to grow as a student at Cambridge. When I was dragging my four bags of luggage (yes four, one of which being my golf clubs), to the ticketing counter in Dallas, I couldn't help but feel a little sentimental about leaving my home for seven weeks. As the years go by, I have been getting to spend less and less time in Dallas. This past year I was only home for the holidays and only five weeks this summer. Dallas is home to the best shopping, the best tex-mex, and of course the best family a girl could ask for. Every time I leave home (even though I've done it quite a few times now), it doesn't get any easier. Especially when I have to leave a family as incredible, supportive, and as silly as mine. My little moment of sadness about leaving Dallas was very quickly interrupted by the craziness that is checking seven bags internationally (yikes, and yes that includes another set of golf clubs). The one thing I like to remember when I encounter this feeling, is that no matter where I go in the world, whether it's London or Oklahoma City or anywhere in between, Dallas will always be home. I am so ready for every experience, good or bad, that is going to come with traveling to a whole new country. Anytime I become unsure, I know that this experience is going to shape me into a better and more worldly person. Even as this much needed week of family time in London approaches, I am still so eager to see Cambridge with my own eyes (aka my home for the next six weeks). Even though this next week will come with many struggles, like trying to figure out my international phone plan, I am beyond lucky to have the people I trust the most by my side to help me along the way. To those of you who are still reading, I am so thankful for the support and encouragement I have received thus far with my study abroad journey. I am so looking forward to sharing every big and little experience with you all. I know one day I will really appreciate having wrote down all of these feelings and moments. It's so easy to get caught up in just posting a picture on Instagram (which I plan to do plenty of), but I am so thankful to be capturing all my emotions here on this blog. Thank you in advance to those who stick with me during these next few weeks, I am so ready to share every little moment with you all! XOXO, Loren
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AuthorHello! My name is Loren, and yes that's Loren with an 'o' not 'au'. It's nice to virtually meet you all...welcome to my blog! Archives
August 2019
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