As former exchange and internship students abroad, we understand better than anyone how this shapes you as a person. In this blog post, we dive into how an experience abroad can change you and explore how coaching guides us by providing clarity, purpose and direction.
Going Abroad
We both, Sunny and Carmen, lived in Mexico during our student years. It was an experience to never forget. These moments are full of opportunity, but can also bring feelings of uncertainty and overwhelm. Along with the amazing moments we experienced with our new friends and in the most beautiful places in Mexico, we also faced some difficult situations. The culture is completely different, you are away from your friends and family, and what are you going to do after your time abroad? It’s an experience that shapes you for the rest of your life and can affect the work-related choices you will make.
What Comes Next?
We both made different choices after our time in Mexico. Sunny chose to stay in Mexico and still lives there, while Carmen returned to the Netherlands. Both are good options, but very different. Was it easy? It wasn’t, and it still isn’t. While Sunny still has to deal with cultural differences, she cannot imagine living in the Netherlands now. On the other hand, Carmen misses Mexico when she is in the Netherlands and vice versa. These kinds of experiences shape you differently and influence your choices for the future. We both admit that it can be difficult to decide which path to take.
Coaching to Discover Your Pathway
We think there is nothing wrong with getting help from others to discover what you want. In fact, we think this is something more people should do. Talking to someone about yourself and your possible future makes you vulnerable but can also give you more insights into what you want. Someone who knows a lot about this is Sven, he is a life coach who focuses on students who are in the final stages of their studies. He wants to help students by finding their path during his coaching sessions.
Sven helps students by creating a safe and supportive space to explore their thoughts and emotions without judgment or pressure. Coaching sessions are designed to help students gain clarity on their goals and values. By skillfully asking questions and actively listening, coaches like Sven help students discover what is really important to them.
Personal Coaching Journey: more coming soon!
From our own experience, we encourage students to ask for help when needed. Finding your path can be difficult, but discovering what you really want in life is part of the way. Find out more about Sven and his coaching here, or ask us for more information. If you have any questions or problems during your time abroad, or you just want a friendly chat, don’t hesitate to give us a call, we are here for you. Our contact information can be found below on our website or fill out the form on our main page by clicking here and we’ll get back to you.
Carmen will be coached by Sven in the near future and more on this soon!