After 10 days in London, I learned so much about the city’s history and culture, the business environment and myself. I was able to go to so many incredible places and meet people from all walks of life that changed my experience. We visited the top tourist spots and learned amazing history about the royal family, military heroes, events in the city and much more.

My favorite visit was to Westminster Abbey, a church in Central London where the royal weddings and coronations take place. The architecture and attention to detail was immaculate, and the monuments on display were extraordinary. Other amazing sites we saw were St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace.

I also learned about the business environment when we went to the different accounting organizations and got some incredible advice on moving forward in the business world. At these businesses, we had the opportunity to tour the office and ask questions relating to business practices in the United Kingdom, working culture and their path to accounting. One of the best pieces of advice I received was to advocate for yourself when you want something.

An interesting fact about accountants in the U.K. is that their education at university does not have to be relevant to business or accounting. Many individuals try out accounting as a career and learn as they go. I thought this was incredibly interesting as I have been studying accounting for four years now, and it would be difficult to jump into the work without the knowledge I have acquired. In general, the business environment in the U.K. is similar to the U.S. The main difference is that U.S. professionals want to get the work done quickly without any extensive formalities. In the U.K., there was a lot of chatting prior to meeting and getting to know one another before getting to work.

On a personal level, I learned a lot about myself. When I arrived in London, I was able to navigate public transportation alone with my two suitcases in a brand-new city. I had no idea where to begin, but with some Googling and a little help from locals, I got myself where I needed to be. This really gave me a new sense of confidence, showing that I am capable of doing daunting things. Not only did I gain confidence in myself, but I learned the importance of building relationships. It was essential to collaborate with my classmates to make decisions on where to go and what to do. It may sound simple, but it can be challenging to compromise and use effective communication when making decisions like where to eat dinner.

Beyond confidence and communication, I now have a more expansive view of the world. This was my first true travel experience and immersing myself in London gave me a viewpoint that I would not have gotten without Mizzou Study Abroad. Although this post encompasses some of my experiences in London, I cannot capture how truly remarkable it was to be there with my classmates, exploring a new city and culture and making lasting memories.

Being in London was a transformative experience that can only be encapsulated so well on paper. I am so thankful to Mizzou Study Abroad, the School of Accountancy and the Smith family for making this experience possible. I cannot wait to take what I learned from this opportunity and apply it moving forward as I enter the business world.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Accountancy: United Kingdom