I am four weeks away from being a senior in college.

FOUR. WEEKS. AWAY.

How weird is that?

My mom definitely thinks it’s weird.

After this semester, I have three more semesters of school and then I student teach. And then it’s out to the real world to inspire students about making music.

Yeah. I’m freaked.

I feel like my time here at SVSU just flew by. The orientation leaders your freshman year aren’t actually kidding when they tell you that. It’s for real.

One of my biggest reasons for choosing SVSU back when I was in high school was the study abroad potential. Yes, I probably could have studied abroad wherever I went to school. But, the study abroad department here really tailors to what the students’ want to do.

So guess what I am doing in June?

STUDYING ABROAD.

Can you sense my excitement?

Trust me when I say that I am so flipping excited I can’t stand it. I will be studying literature in London the whole month of June. It’s going to be the coolest experience. I’ll be staying in a suite with my own room and four other roommates.

And get this:

I’m the only one from SVSU going on this particular program.

Meaning, I will be flying alone and I won’t have anyone that I know there while I’m there.

So I guess you could say I’m pretty nervous too. Because I am.

I applied for my passport the other day. Cause, ya know, you kind of need that to go out of the country. My first passport was issued to me before I was 16, so I had to reapply for a new one. So naturally, I had to get a new picture for my new passport.

Look at this beauty.

What a mugshot.

I’m going to laugh every single time I open up my passport to show the border patrol officials that I am allowed to be here. The guy that took my picture told me I had to have my hair behind my ears. And I have ears that stick out so much (if you couldn’t already tell).

And that natural smile, though. Looks like I’ve committed a crime.

But for now, I’m finishing up all the paperwork, registering for class, and just mentally getting ready to be away from all the people I love for a month.

I’m very excited to travel. It’s something I’ve had the itch to do for years. And I finally feel like there is nothing and nobody holding me back. I can’t wait to explore the city and meet new people and learn about a culture different than my own. I’m only in class from 9am-1pm Monday-Thursday, meaning I have all my nights and all my weekends to explore.

They talk a lot in our pre-departure orientation sessions about how badly culture shock can affect you or how bad things are happening could be happening where you are going. And adding on the fact that I have to fly internationally completely alone, I’m a little scared. This takes some guts. It is not for the faint of heart.

But when I come back at the end of June and I can’t stop talking about all the memories I made while over there, I won’t even give a second thought to me being terrified a couple of months before I left.

So friends, I ask for your prayers. Prayers for safety flying, prayers for the calming of nerves. And if you’re thinking about me while I’m in London, send some good vibes.

Here’s to stepping out of my comfort zone. Cheers!