Why?
For as long as I can remember, I have had dreams of leaving. I have always romanticized the idea of packing my life into boxes and introducing myself to the world. I wanted streets in different languages to know who I was. I wanted foreign cities to recognize me. I wanted the world to have proof of me. It was almost like I craved my life to scream:
“I was here!”
even after I was gone.
When I was young, a trip to the airport was marked on the calendar weeks in advance — even if it was a 45-minute flight to visit family. To me, the airport meant adventure. It meant people loving and leaving and leading a million different lives.
So, let’s just say my parents were unruffled when I came home two months into my first year of college and announced at dinner that I was applying to study abroad.
Dublin
I often think about younger versions of myself when I find something particularly joyful, because I know it comes full circle back to something she once dreamed about.
- A 5-year-old me dreamed of living in a faraway place. Dublin is 4,714 miles away from Houston.
- A 10-year-old me dreamed of learning about something she was passionate about. Through my Pro-Social Public Relations program, I have the opportunity to use writing and strategic communication skills to creatively hone and develop a story.
- A 13-year-old me dreamed of living somewhere beautiful. The architecture, sunlight, nature, people, and food of Dublin bring me joy and peace every day.
- A 16-year-old me dreamed of using public transportation and never having to drive again. Since being here, I have taken buses, trains, airplanes, trams, and taxis, and have not needed to drive once.
The longer I am here, the more I realize that it was never actually about present-day me—it has always been about my past self and the self I have yet to meet.
When I tell my friends and family back home about Dublin, I often hear myself utter the words,
“Every day is a surprise.”
Which it is.
Something that I didn’t expect about Dublin is its variety of opportunities for how you would like to spend your day. A warm beach in Bray, Howth Mountain winds blowing your hair into knots, and downtown bustle and music on Grafton Street can all be done in less than 48 hours. All that is needed is determination, strategy, and a TFI card.
Coming here, I pictured Ireland as a kind of rainy, nature-focused city. Which, don’t get me wrong, it can be. However, I have found that some of my favorite days have been on sunny afternoons after class, when I read in St. Stephen’s Green Park in the heart of downtown Dublin. I love watching people in this park read, create art, and simply enjoy each other’s company.
Journaling
Since being here, I have journaled my experiences daily. The reasoning is half an irrational fear that I will forget the peaceful, grounded, experienced person that I have become (or hope I have become) while I am here, and half a gift to my future self.
I have this fantasy of my grandkids finding the journal somewhere in my house and bringing it to me, begging me to tell them of all my adventures. In this fantasy, I reluctantly give in at first, but quickly move into a theatrical storybook reading of my adventures as a 19-year-old girl abroad in 2025.
Through journaling, I have retained a physical documentation of my mental, social, and emotional growth throughout this experience. Below are excerpts from my first entry and most recent:
6/4/25
“Yesterday was really hard. I felt so guilty for not being more excited. Everyone keeps saying it feels like a dream, and I agree. I think I’m just bad with change.”
7/1/25
“I’m writing in what is probably one of my favorite places in the world. It’s this beautiful café with art & books & theater décor everywhere & vintage old Hollywood architecture. I’m in the corner watching people just talk in the heart of downtown. Dublin, you really have stolen my heart.”
Clearly, those are two different girls.
Conclusion
Throughout my time here, Dublin has brought out many different versions of myself and simultaneously allowed me to grow in all of them.
Being abroad has made me more confident, joyful, observant, and appreciative — but it has most importantly reminded me of my humanity and connected me to my past and future selves.
Through it all, I can honestly say that studying abroad changed my life, and I hope to bring these new skill sets to my life back in Texas.
This post was contributed by Claire Daugherty, a Global Ambassador for Summer 2025. Claire is a sophomore studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland.
