by Jordan Shellow (UC Berkeley), studied abroad in Sydney, Australia

To all my past selves,

I want to start with you, 5-year-old me. Remember wandering through the mini LEGO cities at LEGOLand? You saw the Sydney Opera House and instantly thought, “Wow, I need to go there!” You learned that the magnificent structure was real and located in a place called Sydney, Australia. From that point on, you knew you had to see it for yourself. Australia became a place of wonder and utter coolness.

To my teenage self, you learned that studying abroad was a vital part of your future after hearing Mom talk about her year in Paris and her escapades around Europe. You wanted to be just like her. Then, at 15, your brother Evan went to study at the University of New South Wales. Thanks to him, you finally traveled to Sydney for the first time. Remember how amazing that trip was? All you had to do was wait, and eventually, that experience would be yours to live and treasure.

And finally, to the me from five months ago: the me who was so stressed and scared about making the most of the experience, meeting people, and living in a new country.

Well, past selves (and dear reader), I have a story for you. Spoiler: It was everything I hoped for and more.

You Found Your People

You were so worried about making friends and finding travel companions. I’m beyond pleased to tell you that it came with ease. The University of Sydney provided so many opportunities during orientation. You joined a massive Instagram group chat with over 60 people, which is where you met your core group.

Now, every Tuesday is trivia night, and every Thursday is musical bingo and karaoke. You’ve spent time at iconic beaches, seen a show at the Opera House (bucket list item: checked!), and even “Taylor-gated” at the Eras Tour at Accor Stadium. You met fellow UC students at UCEAP orientation who became amazing friends to explore markets and nights out with them. These people brightened the experience and gave you excuses to travel to the Eastern US, Germany, and Norway to visit them in the future.

You Saw the World

Remember how much you wanted to explore? You did it all:

• New Zealand: You went on a weeklong road trip with Mom and Dad through the South Island, seeing the Franz Josef Glacier and Milford Sound.
• Tasmania: You actually planned a whole weekend trip for eight people! You saw wombats (fondly nicknamed “womps”) and achieved a life-long goal of finding fossils at Fossil Cliffs.
• The Great Barrier Reef: You’re heading there with Abby, honoring your younger self who always wanted to see it.

I’m beyond pleased to tell all of my past selves that making friends came with ease, and every new friend enhanced your experience, making it the best possible. Also, I can’t wait to see the northern lights in Norway with Frøya, who (oddly) has never seen them despite living there all her life!

You Grew Brave

Back home, you often settled into a comfortable routine, but Australia taught you how to push your limits. You decided to make the most of your time by adopting a new mindset to overcome the things that previously made you afraid to commit. Even though you aren’t the biggest fan of heights, you still jumped out of a plane with your roommates and bungee-jumped off a bridge in Queenstown.

You even took a solo trip from Brisbane to Byron Bay—something you never would have considered before this experience. While the idea was frightening because you rarely go out alone, I am beyond proud of you for exploring parts of Queensland alone with your own thoughts. It was an amazing experience to meet backpackers in hostels and hear their stories about how they came to Australia and where they are headed next.

As someone who struggles with anxiety, you often doubt yourself and stay within your comfort zone, which can lead to FOMO. However, being in a foreign environment with a time limit taught you how to live and experience the most, even when it is uncomfortable. Whenever you found yourself afraid or unsure, you thought, “When in Australia, you might as well do it,” and then you did. This mindset has truly changed you as a person, and it is something you will carry back home to ensure you keep making the most out of your life.

You Kept Your Promise

In the end, to all my past selves: You did it. You achieved your 15-year goal. You finally went to Sydney, and it was so much better than you ever imagined.

Think of this time like a coming-of-age montage in a movie: beautiful, scary, exciting, and difficult all at the same time, but beyond worth it.

You came out of it with immense personal growth that will carry on throughout your life. To anyone reading this: Stay true to yourself even in new and uncomfortable situations. Take in the moment and truly taste it—you’ll thank yourself later.

Read the stories of other UC students who kept their promise to themselves in so many ways while studying abroad:

• As a child, dual-citizen Lily (UCSC) dreamed of living where her extended family came from—Canada!
• Elena Mateus (UCB) wants to encourage every student considering study abroad to lean into the experience and let it change your life forever.
• Ekaterina Griffin (UCSD) kept a promise to the mother she lost as a child and furthered her legacy despite all odds.