Try Not To Blink

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Try Not To Blink

It took me 90 days, 10 countries, 20+ cities, and experiences that will last me a life time to figure out what I would say to any 20-something: “Try Not to Blink.”

I am fortunate enough to say I just got home from spending three months running around Europe, studying business, exploring, jumping out of planes, drinking and eating with 32 of the craziest, best people on the planet. While it was an incredible trip, it wouldn’t have been possible without my diligent work ethic and my amazing parents.

While these three months were crazy, magical, and lots of fun, I worked my booty off to be accepted to James Madison University study abroad program.

I went into school as dance major. I always get funny looks when I tell people my story. I mean, how often does a ballerina end up in the Business School? Because I changed my major half-way through my freshman year, I was behind in the business curriculum, which meant I had to double up on business classes for a year in order to be able to apply for the program.

I, along with 32 of my peers, were chosen out of over three hundred applicants %tags Culture/Travel to have the opportunity to study in Europe. Yes my friends’ hard work does pay off!

Starting in September, I lived in Antwerp, Belgium for three months taking classes and spending countless hours in group meetings. But thanks to skillful planning and pure luck, we were still able to see the world. Not many 20-somethings can say they’ve had over 50 different types of beer, (don’t worry mom, 18 is the legal drinking age) become experts at public transportation, and be able to function off three hours of sleep on the plane home from Ireland, Spain, France, and beyond.

I think my greatest success story was making it out of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany alive having not lost anything or anyone! (See below to read more)

While I was away my good friend, Josh, told me something that I carried with me for the rest of my adventure. He said, “Never let yourself”. Never let yourself be tired and never let yourself miss out on something that might make you a better you.

I am so thankful for Josh for always giving me a piece of mind and filming our best and worst moments on his GoPro. All in all, my European adventure was filled with way more yeses than noes, falling in love (Okay maybe not love but I fell in “like like”), and diving into different cultures all while doing my best to savor each little moment. I always told myself, try not to blink.

But thanks to this semi-automatic human body function, blinking is inevitable. You are what you experience and time goes by so fast! So whether you are studying at a university, being at home with friends or family, or just simply trying to reach your goals, please take any opportunity you can to travel. Travel an hour to another state or far off to another country.

Regardless, TAKE PICTURES, write it down and do your best to remember. (I thank my phone everyday for being my memory storage warehouse.) I knew my 90 days of adventure were going to come to an end.

After swimming in the French Rivera, skydiving in Switzerland, and meeting so many people throughout my journey, my one piece of advice for any 20-something: try not to blink.

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Try Not To Blink

While these three months were crazy, magical, and lots of fun, I worked my booty off to be accepted to James Madison University study abroad program.

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