Step out, grow, and embrace the journey! Our Student Ambassador Tze Fong Lim shares his study abroad experience in Ireland. 🎓
Studying abroad is an exciting experience, and everyone you talk to who has studied abroad will tell you different experiences and stories about how much fun they’ve had. But one thing people don’t talk about often is how to achieve that fun and exciting life abroad. Leaving your home and comfort zone behind in pursuit of your studies is a daunting thing. At the time of writing this, I’ve been to Ireland for 3 months and have never lived alone my whole life let alone fly off to a country 10,000+ km away from home. Although it has only been 3 months, I’ve already lost count of the times I’ve been put into a situation where I was forced to be out of my comfort zone. Â
To many people connecting with others may come as easily as breathing but I’ve always found it hard to approach people and connect with others. Hence that was the biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome after coming to Ireland to study. So you’re probably wondering how I overcame it. The truth is, I didn’t! I’m still the same person as 3 months ago. So how did I form such amazing friendships and bonds with the people I’ve met studying abroad? Truth be told, I just got used to being in an uncomfortable situation by putting myself out there and connecting with others. Convincing yourself to just be yourself and not mind too much about what others are thinking is the most challenging hurdle to overcome. But I thought about every time I’ve formed bonds with friends back at home and had a sudden realization. Most people could care less about your flaws and sometimes don’t even think that far when meeting someone for the first time, it’s all in our head. Taking on every opportunity available to socialize and make connections, sure it can get exhausted from time to time but over time, once you get used to socializing and it became a part of your comfort zone.Â
Many people who pursue a tertiary education, view the time in university as a last opportunity to better themselves. Obtaining skills such as time management, leadership, discipline, etc. These skills are vital in assisting someone in building the future that they desire so they can enter the workforce with an advantage. Back at home, I’ve always been the type to shy away from learning opportunities and school roles that can develop essential skills and personalities. Coming to Ireland, I’ve taken it upon myself to grab all the opportunities presented to me. After participating in so many programs, I’ve found myself feeling overwhelmed and tired as the semester progresses. Being burnout is one of the most dangerous feeling to have as a student studying abroad. I’m sure a lot of us have experienced some form of burnout in our lives and it’s never a fun feeling to have. So how can we prevent burnout while constantly improving ourselves and taking on more responsibilities? The most important thing that I’ve discovered is setting your priorities right. You could then make plans / achievable goals for the week based on the priorities. What most people would struggle with is finding the balance between studies/ work and enjoyment. Incorporating leisure activities is important to prevent burnout. It did feel uncomfortable knowing I had to balance my studies, work, and other responsibilities. Taking a step back and figuring out what is important to you and making a management system that is suitable for you helps with getting adapted into a new lifestyle. Learning more about yourself is important in expanding our comfort zone and welcome new experiences! Â
What I realized after being in Ireland for a while. is that there isn’t a clear distinction between being in your comfort zone and being outside of it. As life moves on and we experience new experiences our comfort zone expands as well and things that used to be uncomfortable for us eventually becomes a part of our life. Nowadays, the principle I go by is if I feel like doing something, I’ll do it. I’ll probably not regret it and cherish the memories I made. After all, we only live once, and life is too short to be held back by my comfort zone.Â
Tze Fong Lim is studying Medical Science at ATU Galway via Education in Ireland.