by Emory Pollard| Spring 2024 |
I don’t even know if words could describe my experience of studying abroad or explain all the many lessons I have learned during my time in Oxford, but in this short post, I will do my best. This semester has been a time of exponential growth for me and taught me how to rely on the Lord, be independent, plan trips, navigate new places, and step out of my comfort zone. During my time in Oxford, I have been blessed to travel to the Lake District, the Cotswolds, Bath, Spain, Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland and Austria. While many people would love to focus on all the travel they have done and probably brag about all they have been able to do, I think that the things I have learned will stick with me even more than the places I’ve been. One of the biggest things I have learned while abroad is how to let go of control. Letting go of control has been a running theme throughout this semester for me and has been evident in several different ways. One of the most obvious ways is probably learning how to go with the flow and adapt when plans change.
I have always been a very Type A person and loved having every detail planned out and knowing exactly what was coming. Studying abroad really challenged that part of my personality. While traveling, you cannot expect what will happen, and plans will inevitably change. When we missed a train or had to pay extra for an unexpected baggage fee, instead of getting stressed and overwhelmed, I learned to accept it, move on, and not let it ruin my experience. Letting go of control regarding travel was essential for my semester in Oxford. Another facet of letting go of control came out in my relationship with the Lord.
During this semester, my family was going through many changes, and it was tough for me to leave home when I felt like I needed to be there and help. By coming abroad, the Lord taught me to trust in His hand and entrust my family to Him. It was not within my control to be there with my family or help them with my own hands through all these changes. While physically separated from my family, I learned that the Lord is omnipresent and always caring for them, even when I am not there. This realization helped me to give up controlling my circumstances and trust in what the Lord was doing. Learning the lesson of letting go of control was such a challenging thing to learn, but it has forever influenced me. Through this experience, I hope to continue learning how to step out of my comfort zone and give up control. This has made me more relaxed and spontaneous, allowing me to enjoy my experiences more. Studying abroad has been a fantastic experience that I will always cherish; it has brought me closer to the Lord and taught me many important lessons. It is a beautiful thing to explore this world that the Lord created, and I encourage everyone to try and travel at one point or another!
