I’ll be the first to admit it, I am a homebody through and through. I love the security of my own home. It’s safe, dependable and predictable. However, this way of living can become monotonous and boring after a while; so, I wanted to challenge myself. How can I make myself uncomfortable in my own skin? Make my surroundings foreign and unsecure?
The answer came to me in the fall of 2018 when the opportunity to study abroad in Australia for the summer of 2019 came about through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. And let me tell you, it has been the best decision yet.
We are extremely fortunate to live in a state such as Wyoming with so many resources and agricultural opportunities to learn from. Australia provided me with a whole new perspective on agriculture and the world in general, it truly was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to bring back a wealth of knowledge to my education at the University of Wyoming.
Twelve students from the university were able to study abroad in Australia for three weeks. During our time there, we were able to visit places that varied from sheep operations to macadamia nut farms. It was amazing to see the variation and abundance of resources Australia has to offer to the United States and our world. I am very thankful to have had this opportunity to compare and contrast the agricultural industry in the United States to those in Australia.
While the knowledge I gained was a great take away from this experience, I will never take for granted the friendships and connections I made abroad. I now have contacts throughout the country of Australia, which is pretty cool! How many people can actually say that? The other classmates I went with soon became some great friends and acquaintances I can depend on. Overall, Australia is an experience that I will never forget and will always cherish thanks to the University of Wyoming.
I challenge you to step outside the prairie of your backyard. How can you make yourself uncomfortable in your own skin?