Skip to main content Skip to site utility navigation Skip to main site navigation Skip to site search Skip to footer
nscc.ca Home
Menu
NSCC International

Sarah Neville's story

Category: Study abroad student
Country: Austria

Written by: Sarah Neville

Sarah applied for and attended a program abroad, which helped her overcome self-doubt and gain confidence in my future in social work. I formed meaningful connections, learned from diverse experiences, and realized the importance of taking chances and the impact we can make together.
When I first got an email about this opportunity, I immediately searched it up and began picturing how incredible it would be. I quickly told myself to snap back into reality. It's expensive. I'm 18 years old. I have never left the country and hardly ever been on a plane, especially alone. There was no way I could ever do it. Not to mention the fact that I would have to be picked. The idea stayed with me for months until the day before applications were due. My friend convinced me to apply that day because it just couldn't hurt. Soon, we were in the midst of the interview process, and it started to become a real possibility in my head. Maybe it is something I can do. And then, "Congratulations, you have been picked"! I could not believe my eyes when I read my acceptance email. As nervous as I was and as much as that anxiety wanted to stop me from going, there was no way I was turning it down.

This experience taught me so, so much. Mostly, I learned about myself. Leading up to it, I was so nervous for every aspect; I had so many thoughts about everything that could go wrong. When arriving at the airport, things started to look up. I met my group and mentor, all strangers at the time, as we were all from different campuses. Little did I know how close we would all become and how much I would learn from them. On our second and last plane ride to Austria, it fully clicked for me. I did it. There I was, sitting alone on a plane flying across the world. I had created what felt like an unreachable dream in my reality. I gained so much confidence in what I can achieve on my own and in my future in social work. During my first year at NSCC, I realized I needed to gain more confidence to do well in social work. I was always very quick to doubt myself, but after this, I have become much, much more confident in myself and my abilities.

This experience was even more special than I could have imagined. The people I met and got to know have left me with so much knowledge and inspiration. Talking with people from all around the world who share your passions is genuinely incredible. Even from Nova Scotia, the four strangers that I first met at the airport quickly became people that I could never forget. Through every conversation I had, every lecture, workshop, and site visit I attended, and even when we were exploring the country and talking to taxi drivers, cashiers, and other locals, I learned things that will always be on my mind as I pursue my career and grow in my life. On our last day of the program, we had a group debrief. Someone shared that sometimes it can feel like we're so small and not making a difference in this field, but looking at the many people who attended this program and knowing how many more of us there are all around the world, it showed us that we are not so small. We are helping. Every single one of us has a passion to help, and it is making the difference that we hope for. That stuck with me.

Overall, this experience showed me the importance of taking chances and striving for things even if they feel unachievable. I am so grateful to my friend who pushed me to apply for this, and to everyone I have met along the way since then. I have truly been blessed to have had this opportunity and this experience. I am so grateful for everyone and everything that has made it happen. Mostly, I am proud of myself for overcoming every fear I had about going away on this trip and for growing the way I have because of it. It has boosted my confidence and made me feel stronger and better prepared to enter the field of social work.
I am looking forward to seeing how much more I will learn and grow throughout my future schooling and experiences.

Related Stories

Top