Caroline's Teach Abroad Experience

I would want future participants to know that this is one of the scariest, hardest things you'll ever do--and you have to do it. You'll regret it forever if you don't, but even worse--you'll be missing out on the chance to become a different version of yourself. I am different because of Thailand: I am more well-aware of my privilege, I am less worried about trivial things, I am more aware of the importance of being friendly towards foreigners here in America, I am more appreciative of things, I am more confident and able to take on new challenges alone. Most importantly, I am proud to be who I am, and I have a newfound level of respect for myself; you won't find this confidence, this self-worth, if you don't test it. Also, I want MORE out of my life than I did before; meeting travellers, learning about their life experiences and their various ways of arriving at their careers, made me less likely to settle in my own life. For instance, I learned about a writer who has been freelance writing for 10-years while he travels the world, and that is my new goal: I've learned through this experience that the 9-to-5 desk job is not the only option.