Kellis McSparrin Talks about the British Studies Program

Seeing the world, traveling to London, experiencing new, foreign things: these were all on my "life to-do list," and although they were dreams of mine, I really never thought they would actually happen. I was content with keeping them as long-lost dreams until one day during my junior year, when an International Studies representative came and talked to my class about studying abroad in London, England. The speaker spoke so passionately and sincerely about his experience abroad, and I could tell by the sound of his voice and the look on his face that his experience was life-changing. All I could think was, "I want to feel like that! I want to have that kind of experience!" I had always wanted to travel to the city where Shakespeare wrote his masterpieces, where Queen Elizabeth I ruled and changed a nation, where Peter Pan flew across Big Ben and the British skyline. London was in my reach, and maybe seeing the world didn't have to be a dream anymore...Maybe I could really make it happen and turn it into a reality.
After class, I immediately called my parents and told them that this was something I had to do. Something was telling me that this was an experience I could not let pass me by. Maybe it was London, maybe it was my dreams, or maybe it was the 8-year-old fearless explorer inside of me. Whatever it was, it was calling my name, telling me to travel to London and explore the amazing opportunities and self-discovery that awaited me there. I knew that I could survive the financial costs, the jet-lag, the homesickness and any other obstacle that came my way. I had made my decision and there was no turning back.
There is no way to describe my trip to London in a simple sentence, paragraph, or even novel! I could write for years trying to put the incredible experience into words, and I guess if I had to sum it up into one description, it would be life-changing, mind-blowing and absolutely, without a doubt, one of the most fantastic experiences of my life. That is not an exaggeration; it truly was a defining moment in my life. I can remember the day I got to London, and I was standing with my friends in total silence staring up at the magnificent clock face of Big Ben. That's when it hit me. I am really here. This is really happening.
The whirl-wind of a month that followed was one of the fastest, most amazing months of my life. I explored Elizabethan London with my English class. I visited the Globe Theater, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the British Parliament. I am a musical fanatic, and I got the opportunity to see five shows in London that were most definitely equivalent to the prestige of Broadway. I ate the most incredible food, met the most interesting people, walked across the River Thames almost daily, and I became a pro at navigating the Tube (London's subway system). Not only did I become totally immersed in London's culture, but I also had time to visit other places in Europe such as Paris, Scotland, Rome and Venice. By the end of the month abroad, I felt like I was a world traveler and most importantly like a British citizen- like London was my home.
Leaving London was a bittersweet experience, but I knew that I would be back someday. There is a legend that if you touch the lion statues in Trafalgar Square, then you will have to visit London again. Needless to say, I touched those lions almost daily! London opened my eyes to wonders of the world, and it helped me discover who I really am. It also helped me realize that I was more than capable of manning a big city all by myself. That is why I plan on moving to New York City after graduation; all because London helped me break free from my insecurities and showed me that I could accomplish anything I put my mind to.
I wish there was a way that I could truly convey the amazing experiences that come from studying abroad, but I simply cannot put them into words. Therefore, whenever I am encouraging anyone to study abroad, I tell them to look at how my face lights up with overwhelming joy whenever the word "London" is mentioned. I tell them to listen to how my voice increases an octave with excitement and my eyes become wide with wonder whenever I'm trying to explain my experience in London. That is what truly reveals how much studying abroad meant to me and how much it changed my life.