In choosing to study abroad, my mind was somewhat focused on the short-term adventure that would await me in Seville, Spain. I imagined the people I might meet, the food I might taste, even the languages I might hear spoken. What I failed to anticipate at the time, however, were the long-lasting effects my time abroad would have on my life, both personally and professionally. In the absolute best sense of the phrase, I have gotten much more than I bargained for.

            Raised as the daughter of a career military officer, I thought I knew what it was like to move among diverse populations. I started my schooling in England, and then moved to Alabama and Florida. In hindsight, I couldn’t have been more wrong: these places are hardly diverse. In every one of my “hometowns” I belonged to the majority demographic across the board. White, middle-class, Christian. I ticked all of these boxes, so to speak.

            Thankfully, in Spain and during my travel while abroad, I learned what it meant to belong to a minority. I awoke to 6am calls to prayer from nearby minarets in Morocco, a country where more than 99% of the population share the majority religion of Islam. I looked different than most people, spoke a different language than most people, practiced a different religion than most people. Across the board, I was just different. This experience radically changed my perspective on developing a classroom climate that encourages and supports diverse learners. I now know the difference it could make for a student to be included and their unique qualities celebrated when they might be feeling everything but. If nothing more, the awareness I gained opened my eyes to society’s tendency to set aside the “others” in favor of reaching the most people through targeting the majority. I now know in my future classroom, not to let this happen.

            On a more personal note, I feel as though I am a more whole and more mature person for having taken this leap of faith across the pond. Prior to my semester in Spain, the most challenging life change I’d experienced was moving to college. While this transition freshman year did lead me to a more independent self, nothing can compare to the self-sufficiency and resilience necessary to navigate an unfamiliar country. My independent travel challenged me to build relationships and connections with those I met, and foreign public transportation systems are never short on mentally taxing route maps. In these scenarios, I learned that it is entirely normal to reach out and rely on others when your own tact comes up short.

            International travel and living also comes with its surprises. In many cases, my patience and flexibility were stretched. Both skills which will prove vital in my personal life as well as in the classroom. I’ve learned to set high expectations and do my very best to plan ahead, but also that this does not guarantee smooth sailing. Moving into the future I expect rough waters and the occasional trying storm, but I am more confident than ever in my ability to remain resilient and chart a new course ahead.