OPINION: Traveling is the best textbook before study abroad

Studying or traveling abroad offers invaluable experiences and education, fostering both personal and academic growth. ORACLE PHOTO/KAYLI HAMILTON

My first week in London has just passed and I can confidently say I have learned more than seemed possible. Something as simple as going to the grocery store has felt like a crash course in British culture.

At the beginning of the spring 2026 semester, I had a conversation with one of my classmates about how incredible her study abroad program was, which convinced me to apply for USF Summer in London to study abroad for the month of July.

After getting accepted, a friend and I planned to spend a month and a half in London before my study abroad program began.

Months of diligent saving, searches for housing in London and tediously combing through suggested packing lists led up to the moment we landed at London Gatwick Airport on May 18.

When I stepped off the plane, it became real that I was halfway across the world from most of my friends and family, armed only with a few suitcases and blind faith in Google Maps.

And while study abroad programs can often emphasize the courses themselves, sometimes the most meaningful education happens outside the formal classroom while navigating unfamiliar places and cultures and experiencing a new level of independence.

Adey Abebe, a sophomore digital communication and multimedia journalism major, is participating in the USF Honors Semester in England program — which started Jan. 6 and lasts to June 18 — and said the experience has been personally transformative for her.

“I would say it’s definitely opened a lot of essentially seeing a new version of myself that I wouldn’t have been able to imagine if I hadn’t studied abroad,” Abebe said.

I have already experienced this new version of myself while being in London. I realized just how much I like to be in control of my surroundings and know exactly what I am doing at all times.

This desire to look put together can prevent me from trying new things without thoroughly researching them beforehand, whether at home or abroad.

But while abroad, no matter how much research you do on the place you are traveling, something will likely surprise you. The kindness of the people here and public transportation etiquette are both things my internet deepdives did not prepare me for.

And even if I can’t complete all of the things on my London bucket list before my program starts, many USF World programs have built-in excursions so adventures don’t have to stop when courses start.

During these excursions, students are able to step outside of and learn outside the classroom while participating in their courses, according to USF.

Abebe said these excursions offer a glimpse into the United Kingdom’s culture while giving students a break from typical schoolwork.

While waiting for my program to start, I have taken a few solo excursions of my own, taking advantage of all the free museums London has to offer.

I have had the opportunity to go to Tate Britain, The British Museum and the Natural History Museum — all of them expansive and thorough. As Abebe said, these museums have offered me insight into both present and past UK culture.

While wandering around Tate Britain — an art gallery containing more than 500 years of British art — I saw a group of people standing in front of a sign advertising free tours.

My timing was lucky as I got to participate in a guided tour through an exhibit displaying Joseph Mallord William Turner’s work, one of the most renowned artists in the UK.

Turner’s paintings offered insight into what 1800s Britain and Europe looked like, from scenes of fishermen being tossed in the waves to rural farmers picking turnips.

I am learning not to be scared of trying out new things — including attempting to join a tour group — and intentionally pushing myself just a little bit outside of my comfort zone.

Letting go of my need for total control has allowed me to make the most of my experience while abroad. I no longer wait for the perfect conditions to do something I am looking forward to — if anything, I am learning to embrace the unexpected and see it as a story to tell later.

If you are studying abroad or are considering it, know that it is truly a life-changing experience and worth every penny.

Studying or traveling abroad forces you to face your own fears and limits in a different way than when you are in familiar surroundings. Ultimately, this leads to invaluable personal growth.

Abebe said that for her, this growth has come from pushing herself outside of her comfort zone and realizing that she had the capacity to be independent while utilizing the support system offered by her program.

“Now I know that any challenge that is placed in front of me, I can overcome it through this program,” Abebe said.

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