Wible, Sydney

Sydney Wible

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
"I chose to study abroad because I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and truly discover who I was and what was important to me. As an out of state student from Texas, I was used to moving far from home but I had never traveled by myself to a different country before. I wanted to grow as both a student and a person and experience a new culture by being adventurous and spontaneous.I wanted to gain independence and confidence in traveling and experiencing new cultures. I also wanted to experience a ""hands on"" method of teaching from professors I usually would not have the opportunity to interact with. I chose to study with DIS Scandinavia because I wanted the opportunity to study in both Denmark and Sweden. I was able to spend a month living in both Denmark and Sweden without having to worry about transferring to each new country. I also loved how the programs included a ""study tour"" in which we had the opportunity to travel with our classmates to a different country for a week (I was able to travel to both Austria and Hungary). I also chose DIS because I wanted to meet students from not only UNC, but other universities around the country. "

What did you learn about yourself?
Studying abroad truly changed my sense of identity. I had always associated my identity with where I grew up or went to college, however studying abroad allowed me to view myself and the world from a different perspective. I truly gained a sense of independence and learned that it was okay to be scared and push myself outside my comfort zone. I learned that I was capable of navigating new surroundings and create lifelong relationships in a completely new environment. I learned that it was okay to make mistakes whether it was with learning the language or getting lost on public transportation. I learned how to confidently navigate new cities and establish my identity and true sense of independence.

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
Although every moment while studying abroad was incredible, it was truly the "small" everyday moments that were the most special. In Copenhagen, after class my classmates and I would swim in the (very cold!) canals and enjoy the weather and spending time with each other. While this may seem like a small moment in the grand scheme of studying abroad, I learned how to be more adventurous and spontaneous. I usually would never want to jump in freezing cold water, but studying abroad showed me how to overcome my fears and experience new things with my classmates. I also loved trying new food, biking around the city and navigating public transportation, and attending concerts while in both Denmark and Sweden!

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
"My biggest piece of advice is to embrace the unknown and to never take the small everyday moments for granted. Leaving home to study abroad is undoubtedly both a scary and exciting experience. It can be intimidating to leave behind all the people and places you are familiar with but studying abroad was the best decision I made for myself. I initially applied very last minute because I was nervous to study abroad without any friends or family. However studying abroad showed me that discomfort ultimately leads to growth and I immediately felt at home in the countries I lived in. I would also encourage students to do things they usually would not do at home. Whether this is jumping in a freezing cold canal after class or going on a ferris wheel in Budapest, learning how to embrace everyday life in a new country provided me with the best memories and experiences. "

Memories