I’ve known that I would spend a semester abroad in college for as long as I can remember. My parents sparked in me a penchant for travel when I was very young by taking my sister and me on interesting vacations and encouraging us to see the world through the lens of a traveler. My high school helped foster this desire to explore with its unique study abroad program, where students spend the last two weeks of each school year travelling to a foreign country and delving into the local culture. While these experiences were invaluable and I recognize how fortunate I am to have been able to see so much of the world at such a young age, these short visits were not enough for me to understand what it’s like to live in an unfamiliar country.
By the time second year rolled around and the talk of spending a semester abroad was in the air, many of my friends dismissed the idea by reasoning that it would be unfathomable for them to sacrifice one of their precious eight semesters at the University off Grounds. They expressed that they couldn’t miss a spring in Charlottesville, a St. Patrick’s Day on Grounds or a Foxfield. As much as I love going to school here and living in Charlottesville, I responded by telling them how unfathomable it would be for me to pass up the opportunity to live abroad for four whole months.
However, now that I’m committed to a program in Copenhagen, Denmark next semester — having paid my deposit and enrolled in classes — there’s a looming sense that my time is limited and I have a lot to accomplish before I move to Europe.
Knowing that when I return from studying abroad I’ll be a fourth-year with one foot out the door to the real world, I’ve made a conscious effort to experience as much as I can in my few short months as a third-year in Charlottesville. Every opportunity I have to do something that is unique to being a Wahoo that I would normally push off and vow to do later on, I’ve decided to take.
For instance, before this semester I had never hiked Humpback Rock. So, when my roommate suggested that we set our alarms for 4:45 a.m. on a random Tuesday and go watch the sunrise from one of the peaks of the Blue Ridge Parkway, rather than protesting that I needed those extra hours of sleep, I said, “Why not?” With perfect weather and a group of friends, I had a much better morning than I would have had in bed and I checked it off my college bucket list.
I’ve also taken the opportunity to watch as many sporting events as I can fit into my schedule. We’re incredibly lucky to have such a successful Division I athletic program with various teams that are top 10 in the country. Despite having only made it to two sporting events my entire second year, I’ve tallied four soccer games, two football games and a few rugby games on Mad Bowl in my short three months as a third-year. Knowing that this is my second-to-last fall semester to root for the Hoos as a student and not an alum, I figured I’d be better off skipping tailgates and actually making it to some games this year — and I was right.
Lastly, when the inauguration of University President Jim Ryan came around, I debated whether or not to spend my Friday afternoon on the Lawn attending this ceremony about which I knew very little. However, I was encouraged by the limited time I have on Grounds this year and the fact that it was such a momentous event in our school’s history, given that we have only had nine presidents since Thomas Jefferson founded the University 200 years ago. Immediately after it was over, I knew that I had made the right decision. I was incredibly lucky to witness speakers like former Harvard University President Drew Faust and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam come to Grounds and to be a part of honoring someone who is sure to make impressive contributions to our school.
Acknowledging that my time at the University is rapidly ticking away turned out to be an asset rather than a sad conclusion. Had I maintained the mindset that I have plenty of time left to check things off my college bucket list, I would have missed out on an array of opportunities that I likely wouldn’t have gotten again. So, if you’re debating whether or not to venture all the way over to Scott Stadium for that football game or watch the Sunset Series at Carter Mountain on a Thursday evening, do it. Four years may seem like a lot of time until you look back and wonder where they went.
Luke Fischer is a Life Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at life@cavalierdaily.com.
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