Saint Peter’s Basilica Through the Keyhole. Photo taken by Kalinn Mecklin

Gannon student Kalinn Mecklin spent the spring semester of her junior year studying abroad in Italy. While she didn’t expect her first weekend to be picture-perfect, she definitely didn’t anticipate running into an issue so soon.

While traveling to Prague, Czech Republic, with a group of students who were also studying abroad, miscommunication with the group and her roommate left Mecklin disconnected from her peers. She ended up spending a night in a hotel alone.

Kalinn Mecklin reflects on her experience, “This moment allowed me to be cautious with who I traveled or made plans with. It also gave me the strength and courage to travel alone; that way I could experience this new world freely and confidently.”

The lesson Kalinn learned that night is at the core of what studying abroad can offer: not only an opportunity to study in a new environment, but the chance to discover who you are when forced into hard situations.

Many students let the fear of uncertainty and unfamiliarity override their desire to travel and experience a new life overseas. What they may not consider is that the challenges studying abroad poses can be the most formative part of the entire trip.

Behrend’s own Sadie Groner, a 21 year old English major, will spend the spring 2027 semester in Perugia, Italy. Having already spent five months away from home while employed at Yellowstone National Park, she knew that she didn’t want to spend four years in just one place to further her education. With a passion for travel and a love of learning, she found the ideal blend of the two in studying abroad.

“Study[ing] abroad seemed like a great way to continue my education, while indulging in my passion for adventure,” Groner comments.

Groner has been making an effort to learn basic Italian to support her travels and continue her personal research. She acknowledges that the language barrier will present challenges; relying on translation tools will no doubt be an important safety net. Rather than letting trepidation shut her down, Groner is curious to see how her background in English will be challenged abroad. Taking classes in the humanities helped her fine-tune her ability to communicate with people who speak differently and enjoy unfamiliar lifestyles.

The stomach-twisting, anxious excitement of overseas travel can simultaneously entice and discourage students; Mecklin knows first-hand how frightening the experience can be.

“This was my first time traveling to Europe, and alone for that matter. I was constantly tired, angry at people, and scared. I didn’t know the language or customs upon arrival, and that terrified me,” Mecklin recounts.

Eventually, as she started to gain her footing in her new environment, she came to the realization that from fear blossoms tremendous joy.

“By the end of my trip, I found myself to be incredibly happy. Such an experience is one I hope never happens once in a lifetime, because I’ve never felt more content than I am while traveling,” Mecklin reminisces.

Rather than letting the fear of uncertainty become the headline of her experience, she found beauty in the unfamiliar; she paid attention to the interconnections of her unique environment and learned how people move, talk, and work within their communities.

On the academic side of things, study abroad programs have systems in place to ensure the smooth transfer of credits between two universities. Mecklin reported that while academics weren’t one of the biggest concerns for her throughout the trip, she still managed to earn all A’s and receive her credits. For Mecklin, the bigger challenge was remembering to prioritize her class work over exploration when a fascinating country was just outside the classroom’s windows.

In just a few short months, Groner will set off on her own journey and like Mecklin, there will probably be bumps along the way. While Groner doesn’t know exactly what her experience will look like, the beauty in studying abroad is in the unknown.

The trip doesn’t guarantee a stress-free semester or an easy A, but it offers something even better: The lessons you learn when you push beyond your comfort zone. It is the golden opportunity to learn something about yourself beyond the four walls of a classroom, and return home knowing something insightful about yourself that you may not have otherwise discovered.

Mecklin concludes, “I would encourage others to take the leap […] and strive for uncertainty. My time abroad was formidable, and I would live the experience a thousand times over.

Ella O’Connell