LeadAbroad

I originally began my journey with LeadAbroad as an intern during the summer of 2021, helping lead the DIRECT and LEAD Cape Town programs! I am originally from Newnan, Ga and I graduated from Georgia College and State University in May 2022. I was fortunate enough to have served the Fellowship Role this past summer and fall with a great group of others! I served as the Program Director for PRO Costa Rica and then hopped over to our GO Rome program to be an assistant director. During the summers, I was abroad for a little under 3 months time which was an incredible experience. During the fall season, the Fellows became Student Relation Managers where we traveled across different states to speak to students one on one at many different Universities. It was our goal to focus on how we could sell our programs and share the great adventures and opportunities with as many new students as possible. I chose to take this role because I, too, had a life changing experience abroad and saw how impactful it is for younger students to learn from other places and go outside of their comfort zone. I also have always loved LeadAbroad's vision to change the trajectory of student's lives by creating transformative experiences for them. This company always stays true to their values as well, and it is shown through each one of their staff members both abroad and throughout the year domestically. The company culture is unlike no other. LeadAbroad is unique and focuses on how to make each team member grow in the best way possible. Doing the Fellowship with 4 other women who became my best friends by the end of it, truly changed my life. We traveled together, lived together, and understood each other completely. I would relive this past year of my life 1000 times over again just to have the same impactful experiences as I did. In this role, you meet tons of new people, you impact their lives, and you find your people as well who impact your own life. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that LeadAbroad gave me to work for them and to have set up such a great environment for all of us to be our true selves and have a happy blend of friendships and work.

I went on the 5-week LEAD program in Cape Town this summer and there are literally not words to describe how special the experience was. I am 10 times the person I was when I left for that trip because of how it shaped me. The academics are so interesting and beneficial, the leadership lessons changed my life perspective, the people I met will be my friends forever, and the experiences I had there are stories I will tell my grandchildren. I went skydiving, bungee jumping, swam with seals, went on a safari, cage dived with sharks, walked with elephants, and way more. You also get to the opportunity to do service in the townships which completely shifted the way I think and I am forever heart-warmed by that experience. I can't recommend this trip enough - it changed my life.

I had to fortunate opportunity to go on the LEAD Greece program this past summer. I must say in all honesty, it was the most incredible summer of my college career. Greece was such a beautiful place with amazing culture, food, and ummm… wine haha. However, the real reason I had the experience I did was because of the people. The other students on the program, as well as the LEAD staff (hi guys!!! miss you all!!) were everything. I know for a fact the reason Greece was so hard to leave was because of these people. It was an unfortgettable experience and if you are reading this right now and thinking of going…. GOOOO!!! YOU WILL NEVER FOR A SECOND REGRET IT!! Seriously, prepared for your life to be changed, along with the best sunset and tan you will ever have :)

I spent 5 weeks in Cape Town with LeadAbroad, making some of the best friends, getting to know the greatest city, and going on all kinds of cool adventures that helped me to grow and learn more about myself. Before leaving, I was excited to go to Cape Town, but had no idea just how incredible the trip would be. I learned about the culture of Cape Town, which gave me a greater appreciation for not only Cape Town, but also for all cultures and has shaped the way I travel. I did things I could have never imagined doing and that friends and family at home could not believe, but bungee jumping or sky diving isn't as scary as it seems when you're surrounded by the best friends and staff who will encourage you. I didn't know anyone when I went to Cape Town, but my roommate was a mutual friend and we got along right away. We signed up to go sky diving, but I was pretty nervous about it. When it was our day to go, we went in groups of 2 so my roommate and I decided to go together. We ended up being the last group and waited for about 4 hours until it was finally our time to go up in the plane and jump out! This time made me both more excited and more anxious. When were next up, someone who worked at the Sky Diving place told us that "good things come to those who wait" and that we would get to watch the sun set as we jumped. My roommate continued to encourage me and helped me to get over my fear, and we went up in the plane. I watched her stand on the edge of the door and disappear into the sky, knowing I was up next. Next thing I knew, I was free falling through the sky until the guy with me pulled the parachute. At that point, I was able to look down and see my roommate heading towards the ground and felt pretty accomplished for getting over my fear, with the help and encouragement of my roommate and friends. I looked around and saw Table Mountain and the beautiful city of Cape Town and the sun setting. This was just one of many experiences where I faced fears, learned more about myself, grew in friendships, and saw the beauty of Cape Town.

I didn't know a single person that was going on my trip, but from the minute I was on the ground in Rome I never felt alone. The staff and other students on my program were so welcoming and they were like my family by the end of the trip. Traveling Europe on the weekends was one of my favorite parts. I went to Interlaken, Switzerland one weekend and went canyoning in Chli Schliere. It was the coolest thing I had ever done. Another weekend I was in Prague hot air ballooning. The possibilities are really endless. Another favorite memory I have from my time abroad were the service projects I got to help lead as a community leader. It was so humbling and satisfying to be able to give back to the local community and really see I was making a difference in someone's life by giving them something as simple as a sandwich. LeadAbroad is unlike any other study abroad program. You will have the most amazing experiences, make lifelong friendships, and grow so much as an individual. I can't imagine not going abroad with them when I look back at all I accomplished. I could brag about this program all day, but the point of all of this is to tell you to step out of your comfort zone and go! Don't be afraid if you are alone because you won't be for long. It is easily one of the best decisions I have ever made. You won't regret it.