After years of waiting, the time finally came and I was about to embark on my long-awaited study abroad adventure in New Zealand. Prior to departing for the UA Honors in New Zealand: One Really Awesome South Pacific Adventure study abroad trip, I felt a wide range of emotions: ones characterized by excitement, fear, joy, and nervousness. Having originally registered for the trip three years ago, I was extremely upset when the program was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next year, with hopes of embarking on the trip in 2021, I once again was sad to hear that the program would not be taking place. That year, I had accepted that I unfortunately would not be able to be a part of the Honors College study abroad trip during my time at the University of Alabama. But, at the start of this year, I was so excited to learn that I still had an opportunity to study abroad in New Zealand. As a senior, I was looking forward to this Honors College program contributing to some of the last memories I would make as a student at the University of Alabama. Leading up to my departure, my joy and excitement became accompanied by feelings of concern and nervousness. I worried about things not going the way I expected them to and I started to think of several “what-if” scenarios. What if I don’t make friends on the trip? What if I don’t get to see all the sights I wanted to see? What if I won’t have time to complete my assignments? These were just a few of the thoughts running through my head as I sat on my bedroom floor and packed my suitcase in preparation for the trip. To deal with this range of thoughts and emotions, I reminded myself that I did everything I needed to do to prepare, that I should remain patient with myself as well as others throughout the trip, that it was important for me to just stay positive, and that I should try not to excessively worry about things that were out of my control.
