I never thought gate G13 in O’Hare International Airport would cause so much anxiety. I walked briskly through the wide airport corridors watching previous gates disappear behind me. G10…G11…G12. As I approached G13 a sense of uncertainty flooded throughout my body. I forced myself to take those steps toward a group of strangers I would soon spend two weeks with.

Months earlier, I applied and got accepted into the University of Notre Dame Pre-College Study Abroad: Ireland program. I had no sense of confidence that I would get accepted, so naturally I was ecstatic to receive the long awaited email. Along with months of exciting anticipation, I had some late onset apprehension after it sank in that I knew absolutely no one going on this international trip. After the typical awkward small talk ended, it was real that the experience I had been waiting for was truly here. I was truly surrounded by 14 of the smartest, most driven students I had ever met.

What awaited me as I arrived in Galway, Ireland was an explosion of intriguing Irish culture. We had the privilege of staying in the beautiful Kylemore Abbey which was only a short drive from our week’s activities. Riding Connemara ponies, feeding baby sheep, and seeing where world renowned poet William B. Yeats wrote his poetry, is invaluable. Well, except for a class ring. In exchange for a lifetime of experiences and knowledge, Ireland gained a class ring. A definite low point in the trip but I will admit it was quickly forgotten when we all discovered our group’s Irish counterpart, Tom, pronounced “three” as “tree.” Throughout that week I attended lectures about Irish literature and was introduced to things I have never heard of before.

As the first week came to an end, I was sad to say goodbye to the beautiful mountains and beaches but excited about the famous honeycomb ice cream that one of the Notre Dame student interns hyped up.

During the second week, I had the opportunity to stay on the campus of Trinity College in Dublin. A stark contrast from the western side of the island, the city allowed us to compare the traditional Irish culture to a more modern city setting. Our lectures switched to Irish history and were enhanced by trips to Belfast and Howth. Not many people can say they met a convicted terrorist in Belfast like I can. As the weeks flew by the time came to say goodbye to the beautiful Emerald Isle and all the extraordinary people I met. Here are some of my tips to your own pre college experience.

1. Apply to anything and everything! Typically there are no application fees for Pre-College programs so go for it! There is no harm in applying even if it isn’t your first choice. The first step to achieving an amazing experience like this is applying.
2. Initiate the awkward small talk. It’s a necessary evil to get the awkward first conversations out of the way. Chances are you won’t know anybody else on the trip but that is part of the experience. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
3. Pack a fanny pack. This was definitely one of my best decisions on my trip to Ireland. Whether you’re on a college campus, Rome, or the Irish countryside a fanny pack is a must. It eliminated the need for me to carry around my clunky backpack up a 5 mile mountain hike.
4. Pack extra room in your luggage. I know this seems obvious to anyone who has traveled before but I have to emphasize it. Even if the program you attend is local or not in a foreign country, be prepared to buy loads of college memorabilia or foreign souvenirs. Some of the people on my trip bought a second bag for all of their stuff.
5. Bring a journal. This is actually something I didn’t do on this trip but really wish I had. I know in ten years I’m going to want to remember every detail the rough ferry ride to a remote island of 60 residents.