From a chilly Canadian winter to the sunshine of Brisbane, I never could have imagined how much one semester abroad would change my perspective on university, my future, and myself.
Hi everyone! My name is Sophia, and earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad at the in Brisbane, Australia. I was excited to experience a new country, meet mates from around the world, and explore new opportunities, but I never could have imagined how quickly Australia would begin to feel like home – or how much Yochi I would end up eating along the way!
Academically, UQ gave me the opportunity to explore courses that connected directly to my passion for forensic science. One of the highlights from my semester abroad was taking The Archaeology of Death and Crime Scenes, where I participated in simulated crime scene investigations and gained hands-on experience with human skeletal analysis, biological profiling, excavation, documentation, and evidence recovery. Being able to learn forensic archaeology in a practical setting strengthened my interest in pursuing graduate studies in forensic science and gave me a clearer sense of the career I hope to build after Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s.
Outside the classroom, living at International House became one of the most meaningful parts of my exchange. What began as a residence quickly became a community and my home away from home. I met people from all over the world, each with their own cultures, stories, and perspectives, and I formed friendships that I continue to keep today.
Brisbane itself was an incredible place to call home. I loved the balance between university life, the outdoors, and the city, and I took every opportunity to explore beyond UQ. During my semester, I had the opportunity to travel to Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef, New Zealand, and Japan. While each destination was unforgettable, it was the people I experienced them with and the opportunity to immerse myself in different cultures that made the experience truly unforgettable.
More than anything, exchange taught me to embrace the unfamiliar. Living on the other side of the world pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me become more independent, confident, and open to opportunities I might otherwise have hesitated to take.
Exchange even has the power to continue fostering opportunities that extend far beyond my time in Australia. Now that I’m back home, I get to give back to the Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s community by being a Peer Advisor with the International Programs Office, where I get to support and encourage students as they prepare for their own exchange experiences.
My biggest piece of advice is to take the leap, even if it feels intimidating at first. It is completely normal to feel nervous about leaving everything familiar behind, but exchange is about embracing the unknown and allowing yourself to grow from it. Give yourself the chance to say yes to opportunities, and stay open-minded, because you never know how profoundly one semester abroad might change your perspective, shape your future, or influence the person you become.
Sophia's Photos
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