Life After Study Abroad in Buenos Aires

As my journey abroad comes to a close, I realize that this is only the beginning of a life time of exploration and engagement. Four months in Buenos Aires, Argentina, changed my life forever. The experiences I have had while abroad are truly priceless. This discovery of self and the world around me has become a launching pad to future endeavors and successes untold. I am inspired and excited to take all the knowledge that I have gained while abroad and put it to good use.

I have one semester left of college then...boom, into the fierce global market. Honestly, it's a bit scary; the unknown future can steam up a little fear inside. But what is there to really fear? I just spent four months in a foreign country studying a secondary language - I'm still here and accounted for. In a way, study abroad has made me fearless, before actually being here I could never imagine myself living in a country outside the U.S. but, I did it! If I managed to pull off something I never imagined myself doing (with help of course), then the things I dream of achieving are more attainable than I thought. I'm a better and more confident me because of my study abroad experience.

I've been bitten by the world travel bug, I cannot wait to experience everything that this planet has to offer from end to end - the possibilities are endless.  

So, what's next? Graduation is nearing and I'm more than confident that my experience abroad will become a valuable asset that will put me one step ahead of the competition. I'm journalism major, the field of broadcast journalism is very competitive and with any communication sector it's important to be able to communicate with a variety of people. My Spanish skills will give me a sure edge. As our nation changes, so does how information is presented and who presents it. Today, the U.S. has nearly 50 million Hispanic inhabitants, which have surpassed the African-American population. Some even predict Spanish to be a primary language in the U.S. in the next 50 years. Get on the bandwagon!

Not only will learning a secondary language be beneficial to my future career, but so will the cultural experience I have had living here in Buenos Aires. Learning to adapt and embrace another culture is a very necessary skill to obtain for success in the global market. The world is closer than ever, social media has put news and communication a push of a button away; companies and agencies need employees with world knowledge and accessibility. It starts with education, only through the knowledge and engagement can world cultures unite.

I am beyond thankful to have had the experiences and the knowledge that I could have only obtained from this study abroad. Buenos Aires is an amazing place to experience all that Latin America has to offer. Priceless, that’s the one word I could use to describe my experience here in BA. Moments like this determine what paths we chose to take for the rest of our lives.