The time leading up to my departure was the definition of anxiety. The knotted stomach, the neck sweat and nervous hands. I was leaving for a land down under all alone, travelling alone and taking a completely autonomous step in my future as a budding adult. I finally reached the day of departure and made it safely through security. Goodbyes were tough and heartfelt, doing the best I could to make it out without ruining my mascara. Making my first flight I was off towards Los Angeles, a city that supposedly never sleeps.
My departure was far from smooth. I was not prepared for what would happen to me on my way to Australia, but I can now say I survived and made it safely to where I needed to be. Unfortunately, six hours off schedule and running around the terminals with three suitcases I finally found an airline that does sleep. My airline had closed security for my flight and I was now missing my fourteen-hundred-dollar flight to Melbourne. This, after changing connections and missing flights, was the icing on the cake. I had no way to get through security and no way to leave the terminal while still holding all of my luggage for an entire semester. The subsequent nights were sleeping under fluorescent lights, befriending TSA and becoming surprisingly at home in LAX. My trip over to Australia was the definition of a nightmare.
Everything I could think to have gone wrong did, in fact, go wrong. But eventually I made it, making everything I endured that much more worth it when I touched down in this brand-new continent. It was tough, and expensive, but I am thankful for the lessons it taught me before I even truly began my journey. Before you go, just know that things will be difficult. Know that the transition will be tough and that there will be times where you feel as if you made a mistake or can’t finish what you started. Know it is normal and lean on the support system being given to you at every single turn. I was even receiving kind messages and support from many channels while I was stuck in the airport. It is possible, you are growing.