Thanks to the Smith family, over the last month I have had the opportunity to study abroad in New Zealand and Australia. This was my first time out of the country and the best month of my life. Going from historic Dunedin to the fantastic sights in Queenstown, all the way to the city lights in Sydney, I could not be more thankful for the experiences I was able to have on this trip. I enrolled in the program only knowing my best friend Kendel, but I was fortunate to leave the program with 44 new friends who I made memories with that will last a lifetime.

This trip has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and has given me the extra push I needed to understand that it is okay to invest in life experiences and traveling. Being a midwestern kid, I have never envisioned my future anywhere else. As of recently, I fully intend to incorporate travel into my upcoming sales career post graduation. I am very thankful that my eyes have been opened wide to the world and all the potential opportunities that it presents.

It is hard to pick my favorite experience on the trip, but if I had to pick one day … it would be my bungee jump in Queenstown, New Zealand. As seen in the picture below, I jumped off of a 134 meter ledge into an 8.5 second free fall. I was absolutely terrified of heights until I jumped. The adrenaline was a feeling I had never experienced before and am excited to chase again!

As I move forward to my senior year, I plan to keep traveling as a priority so that I can continue to become educated on other cultures. Without the Smith Family Scholarship, this experience would not have been possible. Thank you so much for the best month of my life!

 

Sincerely,

Jake Spaniol