I’ve always been told that growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. It wasn’t until I studied abroad that I realized just how life-changing those words could be. Over the summer, I completed my Entrepreneurship Minor in Nice, France, with Eccles Global. What I learned extended far beyond the classroom. This experience gave me the chance to face my fears, adapt to unfamiliar situations, and build confidence in ways I never imagined. What stood out to me most was how much independence comes from listening to yourself and trusting your own process. In Nice, I discovered that independence requires resilience and flexibility—cornerstones for creating value in business and in life. There, I also came to see that success, whatever that might look like for each of us, often comes from bringing your own unique passion and perspective to the table.

Together, these lessons shaped how I now view the entrepreneurial mindset: staying open, aware, and adaptable while pushing into the unknown. As my professor, Cord Bowen, taught our class, the line that separates the known and unknown is always expanding. My time abroad taught me to embrace that expansion, even when it feels uncomfortable.

These ideas all came together on my solo trip to Switzerland, which served as a grand finale to my summer experience. A pivotal moment of this trip was when I found myself paragliding hundreds of feet above Interlaken. I had always had a fear of heights, so I never would have imagined doing something that intimidating. But upon arriving in Interlaken, I realized I had reached a new threshold of confidence. I had moved thousands of miles from all that was familiar, gone cliff jumping in Malta, ordered frog legs, found friends in strangers from all over the world, and had put myself in so many intimidating but rewarding situations. Paragliding was another freeing step that I knew I was capable of. I booked it and beat the bad weather by 30 minutes. Taking in the incredible landscape from high above, I felt immense gratitude for my life. Ironically, I also felt grounded—I knew my potential was limitless.

If cliff jumping, paragliding, and moving across the world taught me anything, it’s that discomfort is the gateway to growth. Whether it’s studying abroad, applying for that internship, or chasing your dream job, this is your sign to TAKE THE LEAP. You’re capable of more than you know. At the U, there are so many opportunities and resources that I am grateful to have taken advantage of, and I hope you do too.