Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

In college, I made the decision to study abroad for the fall semester of my junior year. I can’t remember exactly when or how I decided to go to Italy, but I think it was because my small New England liberal arts college strongly encouraged everyone to GO AWAY and the easiest choice was to just go to their campus in Rome. This was fall of 1985 and there were no cell phones or laptops. We were like…really…ABROAD. Travelers checks, passports, guidebooks and one landline for the entire floor. It wasn’t always easy. I had bad allergies from some kind of pollen there and had to take a lot of antihistamines. And the first time I brought my clothes to a lavanderia, they put the bag in the dryer with my clothes and the plastic lining melted and ruined every single thing I brought.

But I’m so glad I went. It was a major growth experience for me. I learned that I actually could speak, even think and dream, in a foreign language. I developed my love of art and museums. And most of all, I gained confidence and a sense adventure. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of cities, foreign cities, explored with other young friends and travelers. Everything and anything seemed possible then.