When I started at Mizzou, I don’t think I honestly wanted to study abroad. I loved taking classes in Columbia, and getting to use the computer animation resources at the university was helpful in developing my craft. I seriously saw myself staying in Columbia to complete my entire degree. However, when the world came to a standstill and suddenly those resources at university weren’t accessible, I came to a realization: Location alone can’t guarantee anything.

Now, I have been studying digital storytelling and animation at Mizzou for around three years. Working on creating animated shorts, I am always considering my perspective: Inside or outside? Cloudy or sunny? Cramped and stuffy, or open and empty? Remembering that my perspective is different from anyone else’s encourages me to be honest with how I tell stories digitally. I’ve found it tough to get a real perspective from others through a video call. We all know it: We’re smiling into the webcam, but inside, we’re missing out on that genuine connection. We feel like we need to come across in some sort of way or say something that makes the time worthwhile.

I knew studying in Columbia was important. I have helpful instructors and supportive friends at Mizzou. And coming back to in-person classes meant coming back to listening intently, and from that, gathering perspective. Going to Mizzou on the Evans Scholarship has been incredible, to say the least. It has taught me lessons in perseverance, value and patience. I wondered, how would my perspective change if I adjusted the point of view? I knew I would kick myself if I did not look into studying abroad.

I spoke with Mizzou Study Abroad about what I could do in taking a semester to work on my business minor. We evaluated my priorities in a semester away from Mizzou’s main campus. I researched schools in the United Kingdom and discovered the city of Norwich hosted an exchange program with Mizzou.

And after lots of preparation, I took my first international flight and came to study at the University of East Anglia — all on my own!

I understood that taking an international semester would shake a lot of things, but studying abroad is an unseen education that one can’t obtain from inside a classroom. You lose out on some of the comforts you’ve known and loved. You have a budget, new responsibilities and a lot of your days rely on being proactive and addressing your environment. However, these pieces of living alone (and living abroad) are only seen as helpful in my eyes. You make conscious choices every day, and it’s an incredible privilege to have time; every day is something new.

Coming to Norwich: The City of Stories was a total coincidence! I am encouraged by everyone who has helped me arrive here safely. I anticipate updating with more pictures and experiences soon, but for now, this is my first encounter with the ever-so-famous fish ‘n chips.