Reclaiming who I have always been
Semester Abroad: Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México
Melissa, one of the Spring 2026 Global Correspondents, shares her experience here abroad during the Spring 2026 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.
Since I have been in Mexico, I feel like I have grown into a different person; however, after deep reflection, I am starting to believe that it’s actually who I have been all along.
When you go abroad, you’re essentially deserted. The people and places you once found comfort in are no longer near you. The only person you have is yourself. It’s not that studying abroad transforms you into a new person, but rather that it brings out your true self. It’s the one time when you are isolated from everything and everyone you’re familiar with.
You begin to notice what you really like and what you really hate without being swayed by friends or family. You notice what made your day in the States that you can’t have abroad. For example, I miss Dunkin’ so much, but not for the coffee, rather for the journey to Dunkin’. Getting Dunkin as a reward for attending class or after stepping out of Van Pelt after a long day of studying. It’s not necessarily the action but the process of getting it.
Now, in Mexico, I feel the need to replicate those feelings, but I have come to accept that they can’t be replicated. They are unique to their time and moment. And that is okay. Things aren’t meant to be replicated; they’re meant to be experienced.
I have about two months left in Mexico, and I feel like I have learned a lot about myself, things that I probably would have never learned if I hadn’t gone abroad. I’m not becoming a new person; rather, I’m realizing who I have always been, and that’s the most beautiful feeling in the world. As the world gets scarier and scarier each day, I become more certain and confident of myself.