Study Abroad: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Written by Katrin Surkan
I knew from the moment I first stared down Market Street, lined with townhouses shoved together like a finals week stack of papers, I would be sad to leave Scotland’s University of St. Andrews when it came time to go. But in that moment, I couldn’t help but miss Hillsdale. I took a deep breath and pulled my luggage down the cobblestone streets.
Over the course of the semester, I created the beautiful memories I would miss when I left. I would build the relationships I cherish. I would make friends who taught me what it’s like to have a friend to call anytime. I would practice research in an independent study of the Principality of Liechtenstein (a tiny country in Europe under a democratic monarchy), balanced with a paper I would create discussing the boundaries of trust. I would make a dear friend on the Shetland Islands, working on his family’s sheep farm for a weekend. I would learn the many uses of a scarf in the horribly drab and damp Scottish weather (hat, cape, blanket, neck warmer, windbreaker). I would learn how to connect the scheduling of a work-focused life with a study-focused one.
I left Hillsdale so I could learn about myself. I left, so I could warm and cozy up my home. In creating a space all my own, I learned that I love real plants and fluffy blankets and kitchen utensils and pastels with earth tones. When I returned, I made my life more my own. I discovered that I didn’t need my schedule filled to the brim to be happy. I grew fonder of swing dancing. I learned how to identify the people who made me happiest and how to treat them better. I found a new appreciation for what I had in Hillsdale by leaving it for a little while.
My time at the University of St. Andrews reminded me of what I loved about Hillsdale College. I missed sitting with my friends at AJ’s and on the quad in the sunshine. I missed warm blankets in frigid and dry winters, curled up with a mug of tea while I studied. I missed economics so badly that I perked up at any mention of “interest rates.” I missed talking about the good, the true, and the beautiful, which Hillsdale students intentionally pursue. I missed working with students and locals in the dining hall, the cafes, and on the College’s blog. Above all, what I missed in St. Andrews was Hillsdale’s people.
Not only did St. Andrews remind me of what I loved about Hillsdale, but it gave me insight into how I could make the most of my remaining three semesters. It turns out that a packed schedule of good things does not make a good thing in sum. Instead, I am happiest with two or three activities I can pursue liberally. I don’t need fifteen various shirts, when I know my four favorites and try to wear just those as much as possible (living for a semester from one large suitcase and a carry-on inspires frugality). Knowing half of campus is nice but requires energy to maintain. I found that being open to meeting people while prioritizing those who prioritized and inspired me fulfilled me even more. And through all this learning, I re-discovered the joy of reading with my first proper Dickens, David Copperfield. Time, I found, is as precious a resource as money, if not more.
My time abroad was packed with joy and excitement, growth and adventure. I blossomed in my independence. I recommend every Hillsdale College student study off campus for a semester, whether through the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP), in Scotland, or any country. And when you come home, I would love to curl up with a cup of tea and listen to all your stories. Happy travels!
Katrin Surkan, ’25, has roots on the east coast but can almost always be found traveling. When not writing, reading, or chatting with someone new, she’s likely looking for a dog to pet or singing at the top of her lungs between classes with a cappuccino in hand.
Published in March 2024