When I decided to study abroad, I knew it would be a big change. I had always wanted to travel somewhere and explore a new environment. For me, traveling alone for the first time wasn’t scary; it was the first time I had ever been genuinely excited about a change. What I didn’t anticipate was the fear of meeting people.
I studied abroad in Ireland through the Pro-Social Public Relations Faculty-Led program. Even with a cohort of peers, I was still afraid to speak to them, let alone locals in Dublin. I thought studying abroad was about being independent, but gaining agency is so much more than that. It is about being independent and showing up, even when it gets hard. Gaining agency is about doing the scary stuff because, in the end, you will have a great storyto tell regardless.
The first day I landed in Ireland, I was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. I was late to meet up with my peers, and it seemed like everyone had already made connections and bonded. Truthfully, this feeling did not go away for the next few days. My brain was in overdrive — new place, new people, no one I knew. Gaining agency is hard; it’s important to remember you are not alone and you can lean on people for help. In the first few days, I talked to everyone back home for comfort. Slowly, without even realizing it, I eventually began to adapt.
I remember the first time I felt truly independent while abroad. I woke up early and walked across campus to the pharmacy. It may sound small, but during that walk I gained a whole new perspective on where I was. I saw signs in both Irish and English and greenery I had never seen. I made small talk, heard accents I wasn’t used to, and used new currency for the first time. It was intimidating and scary, but exciting at the same time. It was the first time I was navigating on my own and felt confident.
Another moment came from something just as simple as sitting. I decided that if I was scared, I might as well be scared in the open. I sat in my apartment’s common room and slowly pushed myself to make conversation with my roommates. Eventually, we would be laughing, having movie nights, and eating dinner together. What was once nerve-wracking became the place I went to for fresh air.
These memories show me that studying abroad isn’t just one big moment. My experience was built through small, yet meaningful actions. Walking alone at University College Dublin (UCD), taking the bus into the city, trying new foods, and actively choosing to engage with those around me, even if it was just a “hello.” Each step pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me grow into myself.
If there is one thing I could talk about when it comes to gaining agency while abroad, it is being comfortable with the uncomfortable. You don’t need to know everything or have a plan; just make the first move, and everything will fall into place. Your small moments will become meaningful experiences, and you’ll miss them most when you return because they shaped who you are and how you see yourself.
This blog was contributed by Hannah Shaikh, Peer Mentor for Fall 2026. Hannah is a Public Relations Sophomore. She studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland, through the faculty-led Pro-Social Public Relations program (May 2025).
