In this first-person narrative Dominic Motter, a senior business management major at the ΒιΆΉΣ³», tells ΒιΆΉΣ³» Today about his experience studying abroad in the University Studies Abroad Consortium’s (USAC) London program.
“When I was a kid, my mom used to make me order my own sandwich from Subway. I would be too afraid to talk to the cashier most of the time, so I wouldn’t order anything. That happened up until about sixth grade.
My social skills growing up were not where they should’ve been. I felt very anxious stepping out of the house, even up to my high school years. In a public setting, I just had the sense that I didn’t belong because everyone around me was a grown-up. I was just a kid.
My anxiety wasn’t only in social situations. I needed a safe routine for my day, otherwise I would panic. Ultimately, it’s safe to say, I wasn’t a very spontaneous kid.
Going to and making the decision to study abroad with the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) was very scary for me. I had never left the country before — I’ve only ever lived in Reno, ΒιΆΉΣ³». But, thinking about being in England, putting myself out there … it really made me think. In my heart, I knew that I wanted to go.
I still remember getting on the plane and watching Reno disappear out of the window. I thought to myself, ‘I have no idea what life will be like for the next five months.’ Then, something in my brain switched: I just wanted to make the most out of my time. I did not want to leave any stone unturned because I knew I would probably never be back with these people and in this situation ever again.
The first couple of days overseas were very hard. I was still scared about making friends and being a little bit spontaneous. During our orientation, I ripped off the proverbial Band-Aid and decided to start talking to other students in my cohort. I just sat down with a couple of people and made friends. I didn’t realize it at the time, but introducing myself was one of the best decisions I would make because they would end up being some of my best friends from that point on.
As part of an orientation assignment, the USAC staff asked us to write a letter to our future selves to read at the end of the study abroad program. I wrote, ‘Just let life take you where it takes you.’ At that moment, I knew that I didn’t want to let my future self down.
By the second week in England, my friends had the idea to go to Barcelona for spring break. It was fairly cheap, we were already in Europe, and I didn’t want to be left behind. So, when they asked if I wanted to go, I said yes. Being spontaneous was one thing I have always wanted to be and this was me living out my goals.
If you were to tell my 16-year-old self that three years later I would be traveling through Europe with new friends I had met not even two months ago, I would have genuinely told you, ‘You must have the wrong guy.’
Living in London made me feel like I had the confidence and ability to be whoever I wanted to be — not who I was supposed to be. It opened my imagination. (I even found love, but that’s a story for another time). I learned to tell myself that I could go anywhere in the world and just be me, which is the best feeling in the world.
Comparing myself before I went abroad to after I went abroad is like night and day. I’m much more talkative around people. I got a new part-time job, motivating other students to study abroad while I finish school. Plus, I'm planning on moving to the East Coast after I graduate — a thing I never even thought about before. But, remembering that I did that same thing in London (which is way further than the East Coast) gives me so much confidence in that decision.
I remember my mom telling me about a month after I got back, “This experience forced you to grow up.” Hearing that, after being so anxious and scared my whole life, was the greatest feeling I could have ever asked for. I will always credit studying abroad with that feeling for the rest of my life.”
ΒιΆΉΣ³» the author
Dominic Motter is a senior and business management major at the ΒιΆΉΣ³». He chose to go to London because he has a fascination with soccer and wanted to go to Europe so he could experience it. He also is a big runner and is planning on going back to London to run the London marathon in the near future.
