Embracing the Adventure

by Brea Austin

Earlier this month, I was at home in Hartford, Connecticut with my family. I was a mere two weeks away from going to Shanghai, China to study abroad. My professors approved all my courses, my doctor gave me all the necessary prescriptions I would need, and I was packed and ready to say my goodbyes to my everyone. However, the novel coronavirus spread at a faster rate than I was expecting it to, causing the Chinese government more and more concern over foreigners travelling to the country. But I was holding out hope.

I spent months preparing to go to Shanghai, and despite concerns from my family, I was still determined to go. It wasn’t until I was seconds away from spending hundreds for my visa that I received an email from my study abroad program, CAPA, stating that the trip was cancelled.

At first I was incredibly disappointed, but reading the email further, I saw that I had the option to choose a different country to study abroad. I often try to look on the positive side of things. Optimism has always allowed me to feel better about even the worst of situations, and getting an opportunity to go abroad is still an amazing opportunity and not one to be wasted by further depressing myself about something that is no longer a possibility.

My friend has a saying, “what is for you will come to you”. Just because China didn’t come to me this time doesn’t mean it won’t be an option later down the line. I was presented with three new study abroad options: London, Buenos Aires, and Dublin. I chose Dublin. I had never been to Europe before, and I looked forward to exploring.

“Optimism has always allowed me to feel better about even the worst of situations”

Brea and other Howard University students

While Dublin is similar to cities I am familiar with back home, like Boston, Griffith College is an entirely new landscape. In Washington, DC, I attend the illustrious Howard University. As the top HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the country, Howard University is a cultural and educational epicenter for black citizens in the United States. Whether you were born there or not, once you arrive on campus you are welcomed home. With black administrators, black professors, and black students, it is pool of diversity and culture where everybody wants to see one another succeed. Griffith, too, has a diverse population; although its population and culture are very different from what I’ve become accustomed to, I am looking forward to exploring and finding my place.

Brea outside in Washington, DC