In Conclusion

I sincerely believe that no other single event in my life has changed me as much and in as many ways, some unexpected, as this study abroad program. Probably the most noticeable difference is that I am more confident in myself and my abilities. I keep telling people the story of how, a few days before I left for Germany, I went to visit my new roommate who lives across town and, on the 20 minute drive, managed to get lost both going over and coming back home. So on the way driving back in the dark, I’m talking on the phone to my best friend, who is looking up street names on Mapquest to figure out where on earth I was and how to get me home, and I tell her, “I’m going to die. I can’t even find my way around Houston, and I live here for goodness’ sake! And the street signs are in English! I’m going to go to Europe, get lost, and die, and they’re never going to find my body because I’ll be out in the middle of nowhere!” However, that obviously didn’t happen. And after traveling around Europe on my own, finding someplace new here in America doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore. In fact, doing most things on my own doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore. I’ve become more comfortable than ever about taking care of myself.
Another thing this trip taught me was the meaning of true education. I tend to be an overachiever and to stress about school and work and classes - but there was nothing to stress about work-wise with this program; we were given ample time and freedom with our schoolwork, and that gave me the opportunity to really and truly learn. I so often get focused on what the professor is going to test on and memorizing information, and sometimes I miss the big picture for all the details my brain is busy absorbing to regurgitate for the exam. While in Europe, I was able to actually enjoy learning, to let everything sink in and settle itself in my brain, and I know that it was far more effective that way. I honestly could never draw the photosynthesis cycle from memory again, even if my life depended on it, as I (briefly) learned to in biochemistry, and because that was what I was tested over, all my brainpower was devoted to cramming that into my head instead of understanding how the process worked and the significance of it. The things we learned on this trip, by contrast, all fit together to form a broad perspective of medical history, and I was able to step back and view that whole picture because I wasn’t being driven to focus on and memorize select pieces. The result is that I am mentally healthier from this class instead of less so, and I also have retained more useful information. And that information influences me far more than being able to draw the structure of pyruvate ever will.
Partly from the teaching and partly just from living in different culture and studying it, I have definitely gained a broader perspective pertaining to medicine and also to the world in general. I can see how the point of view of someone from another nation and culture could be different from my own and how that would affect their choices and beliefs, including about medical practices. Looking into biomedical research as my field, I have always been acutely aware of the disputes about ethics in particular. I know that, from this experience, I will have a better understanding of why others may view something as inappropriate or offensive that does not seem a big deal to someone like me, and vice versa. My growth in confidence, in recognizing the true purpose of learning, and in understanding people different from myself is already affecting my daily life, and I know that it has equipped me for both the present and the future in ways I cannot yet anticipate.