Class Year: 2020 
Hometown: Boxborough, MA
Global Study Semester: Fall 2018
Programs: McDaniel College Budapest, Hungary
Major/Minor: Major: Globalization Studies Minor: Peace and Justice Studies
Activities on Campus: Office of Multicultural Engagement student worker
My Story from Global Study:I chose to go abroad to McDaniel College in Budapest because when I was told “I would be one of the first students from Gettysburg to the go to this program,” I knew it sounded like adventure. I felt like I looked at every possible program (and still know of their details like the back of my hand!); contemplating going everywhere from Asia, to the Pacific Islands to Northern Europe. What ultimately made me choose to travel to Budapest was that I would be trying something completely new and making the decision to go to a program without any of my friends. I loved that I was given the chance to try something out of my comfort zone and could create my own judgments of a city, acting almost as a “guinea pig” for Gettysburg CGE. Although I wasn’t with any of my friends, Budapest’s central location allowed for me to train, bus, or fly to almost anywhere in the continent to meet my friends in just a short amount of time. When I first got to Budapest I began to second guess myself and whether or not I made the correct decision, so I traveled a lot. I eventually got burnt out and it forced me to stay in Budapest for a weekend. After taking the time to embrace myself in the city and get to know the holes in the wall along with its beauties, I didn’t want to go anywhere else. Although I am bias, after traveling across Europe on multiple occasions now I can confidently say that Budapest is my favorite city.
My Advice for Future Students:When I first arrived to Budapest it was a cold and rainy day and immediately my first thought was “what was I thinking,” making me second guess my decision and immediately search for the comfort of my friends by meeting up with them in other cities. Although a new city may feel scary and overwhelming at first, try and stay at your abroad location as much as possible; something I now wish I could take my own advice on. Take the time to appreciate the location you are in and people in your program because that is what will make you find the beauty, quirks, and unique environment of your new home for the next four months. Don’t second guess your decision! It is ok to be scared and hesitant at times, but just take everything as it comes and be ready to jump into whatever adventure or opportunity is thrown at you, I promise it will make your aboard experience filled with more learning moments, adventurous stories and unforgettable memories!