How Studying Abroad Encouraged Me to Adopt an “Exploratory” Mindset

By: Victoria San Martin, Simon Fraser University, winner of the Spring 2023 BC Study Abroad: Stories from Abroad Scholarship

Study Abroad Destination: Scotland

Recently arriving home from studying abroad for a semester in Glasgow, Scotland makes me think of the multitude of feelings I experienced while there. I went from feeling like a stranger in Glasgow to building a life with new friends, professors, flatmates, and activities. Being back home in Burnaby, I’ve returned to friends and family, but have also realized how much has changed and will continue to do so. Studying abroad has given me practice in embracing change as something exciting, rather than scary, and adopting an “exploratory” mindset which is something I will continue to grow at home. 

Abroad, everything is new, so adopting an exploratory mindset is a non-negotiable to creating your new life. With so much to do, it can feel very overwhelming and daunting at first. The best advice I have is to travel to your city a few weeks ahead of classes so you have time to adjust (especially if there’s a time difference) and figure out the basics like your housing situation, transit, and where your nearest grocery store is. Once you have the basics down, you can work towards exploring more of your city and building your routine for the semester.

To me, having an exploratory mindset means challenging myself to go out and try something new, and taking off the pressure of having it all “figured out,”whether it’s walking around campus or taking the subway. When you operate with this mindset, it also reminds you that since you are exploring, it’s good to have extra time to get around and to make sure you get enough sleep to feel energized. I found it is easy to get frustrated with yourself when you don’t know how things work. However, having this mindset allows you to focus on the exciting aspects of going somewhere new for the first time by expecting the challenge and being patient with yourself. When I got overwhelmed, picking 1 or 2 new things off my list of things to do helped me focus on moving forward instead of shutting down. Rather than feeling “silly” or embarrassed in a moment of not knowing, I’d remind myself I was exploring and ask people for help if I needed it.

Self-confidence is something I’ve built a lot over the past few years and when I first arrived in Glasgow, I felt like it took a big dip and that scared me a lot. However, day by day, I reminded myself why I wanted to study abroad in the first place and built my confidence up again. I reconnected with my love for performing by joining the musical theatre society on campus, I started going to yoga classes at the gym for my mental and physical health, and even made my first friend by attending one of the tours on campus. Studying abroad showed me how much I am capable of and how confidence really is just a skill one can build. Adopting an exploratory mindset made me think of all the places and opportunities at home I have yet to explore.