It has now been almost exactly two months since I've returned from my Magellan experience, and I feel the effects of my project every day. In my academic endeavors, I feel confident sharing my experiences with my peers and professors in order to add depth to what we learn in the classroom. My time studying the Romantic writers has given me a new perspective on my literary studies; when I study works like Frankenstein and the works of Byron and P.B. Shelley, I can vividly picture some of the places where they were conceived. It feels surreal to have experienced the same places that inspired several of my favorite influential literary works.
I have also noticed a difference in my personality and in my sense of self. I am now more confident of my abilities -- including my ability to navigate my first great adversary, public transportation -- and I feel more sure of the decisions that I make. I now realize that making mistakes is sometimes the best way to learn, so I am not as hard on myself when something does goes wrong.
My Magellan experience has infused me with a fiery sense of independence, a new confidence in myself, and a passion for traveling, and I will carry these memories and lessons with me indefinitely.