Let the Good Times Roll

Sometimes it’s unbelievable where life can take someone. Here I am; this wide-eyed farm girl from central Illinois living and working abroad in Helsingborg, Sweden, experiencing new things with every venture. A few days ago I received some marvelous news that will create a whole new chapter in my life:

I am accepted to attend Lund University this fall!!

 Lund University Website:

http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/

I have often wondered what would come of my higher education; where would I go, what should I study, how will I be able to afford it? It is such a relief now to have all of these questions answered! For many years now I have been thinking about schools that I would like to attend, I knew that I would have preferred to study out of state, but never in a million years would I have guessed that my college years would be spent in a foreign country! Even during my senior year of high school, I knew that I was going to Sweden to work for the year but the thought of going to school here was not a likely option! 

I am currently accepted into a sociology course, it is focused on international migration and development. I still waiting to see if I gained a spot in the Bachelors program of development studies; for those of you who aren’t sure what development studies are, here is a link that I think explains it pretty well:

http://www.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=320&lukas_id=SGUTV

Both the sociology course and the BA program are taught in English. Thankfully Lund is very compatible with international students, and I know Lund will be a wonderful fit for me! I'm very excited to start my studies and enjoy life as a student here in Sverige! 

I'm going to have to work for this wonderful opportunity, and I am ready to face that head on. Not only am I potentially enrolling in a very intense BA program, but I also intend to remain working as an au pair for the family here in Helsingborg (at least for one more year). 

I am still going home this summer for two months, it will be a perfect time re-uniting with everyone! I am returning to commence my work and studies next August. 

I still am amazed where my decisions have taken me in the last years. It has been very difficult finding out what I want to do, how I should do it, etc. I always knew that I wanted adventure in my life, but I could hardly imagine the possibilities that awaited me out here in the world. I remember how unsure I felt about 'taking a year off' from my studies to come to Sweden to work- I almost felt like it was frowned upon because I was doing something different than the traditional plan of 'finish high school, go straight to a U.S. college' that has been beaten into my head from at least my freshman year in High School. I still wonder if I would have been as happy if I had followed that overly-paved path. I am so lucky that my parents are so supportive with every decision I make- I don't know what I would do with out them on my side! 

I leave you with an inspirational quote:

Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life.

— Dr. Herbert