{"id":106,"date":"2024-12-18T12:29:14","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T17:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/industry-engagement\/?p=106"},"modified":"2024-12-18T12:29:36","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T17:29:36","slug":"blown-away-from-the-colosseum-to-spontaneous-switzerland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/industry-engagement\/2024\/12\/18\/blown-away-from-the-colosseum-to-spontaneous-switzerland\/","title":{"rendered":"Blown Away: From the Colosseum to Spontaneous Switzerland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest blog by <\/em>Isaac Rogers<\/em><\/a> [link to <\/em>https:\/\/www.irogmedia.com\/<\/em><\/a>], Marketing Major, Study Abroad Fall 2024<\/em><\/p>\n

Hi! I\u2019m Isaac Rogers, a third-year marketing major at Ball State University and County Ambassador for LaGrange County with a passion for photography, videography, travel, and hiking. When I\u2019m not snapping photos or exploring trails, you\u2019ll probably find me planning my next adventure. This past semester, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy\u2014an experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me stories I\u2019ll be sharing for years to come.<\/p>\n

If You\u2019d Told Me a Year Ago…<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you had told me a year ago that I\u2019d live within walking distance of the Colosseum, visit eight countries, and book a flight to Switzerland on a whim, I probably wouldn\u2019t have believed you. Yet here I am\u2014back from a semester in Rome that gave me the freedom to explore, step outside my comfort zone, and collect memories I\u2019ll carry with me forever.<\/p>\n

That First Colosseum Moment<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first time I saw the Colosseum<\/a>, I just stood there, staring up at it. Blown away. You see pictures of it all your life, but nothing prepares you for the sheer size of it. Naturally, I couldn\u2019t stop taking photos of it\u2014trying to capture just how massive and incredible it really is.<\/p>\n

We went on the first Sunday of the month, which meant free entry (pro tip for anyone visiting!). Walking around the inside loop, I couldn\u2019t stop thinking about the history\u2014everything this one building has seen<\/em>, from gladiator fights to modern-day tourists like me. It\u2019s surreal. I also realized my apartment was less than two miles<\/em> away. How crazy is that? I could run past the Colosseum any day I wanted (which I did many times). That\u2019s Rome for you.<\/p>\n

The Last-Minute Swiss Adventure<\/strong><\/p>\n

If living in Rome taught me one thing, it\u2019s that sometimes you just have to say yes<\/em>. I spent weeks watching flights to Switzerland<\/a>\u2014dreaming about the Alps, but they were always out of my price range. Then, one day, I checked again\u201412 hours before a flight was set to take off\u2014and the ticket was cheaper than it had been all semester and would be for the rest of the semester. I booked it right there at 8pm on a Thursday night. I was in the air by 9am on Friday.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to the next day: I was in Lauterbrunnen<\/a>, a little town so picturesque it felt like a postcard. The air was the clearest I\u2019d ever breathed, and the mountains were just\u2026 wow. I hiked for hours, met kind locals, and soaked up views that were straight out of a dream. That spontaneous decision? Easily the best weekend of my entire semester abroad.<\/p>\n

What I Learned Along the Way<\/strong><\/p>\n

Moving to Rome taught me a lot, but the biggest lesson came when I first arrived. I had this moment of \u201cWait, I\u2019m really on my own.\u201d<\/em> The closest person I knew was a 9-hour flight away. That\u2019s when I made the mental switch: this city, this apartment, this experience<\/em>\u2014it was mine to own. I took pride in creating a space that felt livable for the semester.<\/p>\n

Being abroad also gave me a snapshot of my life in the States\u2014one that I could see from the outside. It forced me to figure out what I value most and what I can let go of. I came back with a clearer understanding of what really matters to me, and I think that\u2019s something every student should experience.<\/p>\n

My Tips for Future Travelers<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re considering studying abroad, my advice is simple:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Find a program that connects to your<\/em> interests. Whether it\u2019s art, business, or adventure, or continuing with your major there\u2019s a perfect place for you.<\/li>\n
  2. Talk to a study abroad advisor. For Ball State, it\u2019s the Rinker Center<\/a>. They\u2019ll help you explore your options and answer any questions you have about studying abroad.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    And once you\u2019re there? Say yes<\/em> to everything, walk everywhere, and take photos of everything\u2014because trust me, it\u2019ll go faster than you think.<\/p>\n\n\t\t