“I am currently studying abroad at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. I was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, but it had always been a dream of mine to visit Australia. I had never left the United States before, let alone travelled away from home for longer than two weeks. I decided to push my boundaries and pack a suitcase for an entire year of studying abroad. While my time in Australia has yet to end, I have had some of the best experiences of my life here.
Studying geosciences, I never imagined that my first month would be spent conducting climate change research on a remote island in the Great Barrier Reef. Other courses included weeklong trips to study geology in different regions of New South Wales. The trips allowed me to experience hiking through the Australian bush with frequent run-ins with wild kangaroos and huntsman spiders. Entering a new setting and knowing no one can be difficult; however, challenging myself has resulted in many new valuable relationships and expanded my view of the world.”
– Sidney Washburn, University of New South Wales