If my first year abroad taught me that I was capable of more than I thought, my second year taught me something equally important. It taught me how to be independent in a deeper way, and how to stand up for myself, speak up, and be a little bolder.
I always considered myself a fairly independent person, but during my second year abroad, I think I took that independence to another level. Not in an unhealthy way, just something I started noticing as the year went on. This year pushed me to rely on myself more than ever before, and surprisingly, that’s exactly what helped me grow.
One of the biggest things I did during my second year was solo travel, a lot of it. Instead of waiting around for friends to join me, I started packing my bags and going on trips by myself. The opportunities to travel were there, and I didn’t want to miss them just because no one else was available.
So I stopped waiting; I booked the trip, I packed the bag, and I went. Before moving abroad, I never imagined I’d feel comfortable traveling across Europe on my own. But now, when people talk about those kinds of experiences, I can actually contribute to the conversation, and that feels really empowering.
Traveling solo taught me so much about myself. It forced me to trust my instincts, navigate new places on my own, and become comfortable being alone. But it also made the experiences feel even more special. Because I knew something important: I took myself there. I showed up for myself. I made those experiences happen, and that’s something I’ll always be proud of. When I wasn’t traveling, my life was actually pretty quiet.
I lived about 30 minutes walking from the Alicante city center, or about 10 minutes by tram, which honestly wasn’t bad at all. But once I got home, I tended to stay home. My apartment became my little space where I could focus on myself. I spent a lot of time working on my blog, brainstorming ideas, being creative, and thinking about what I wanted for my future. It was peaceful in its own way. But as we all know, when you get really comfortable somewhere, it can also make it easy to stay in that comfort zone.
Another major lesson this year was learning to stand up for myself and speak more boldly. During my first year, I often stayed quiet when something bothered me. I didn’t want to cause tension or make things uncomfortable. But this year, I realized that sometimes you have to advocate for yourself.
Part of that growth also came from becoming more comfortable speaking Spanish. I’m not fluent by any means (yet), but I can communicate well enough to express myself when needed. And that alone gave me more confidence to speak up in situations where I previously might have stayed silent. Little by little, I started realizing that my voice mattered too.
One thing I also noticed this year was that independence can sometimes turn into isolation if you’re not careful. Because I was traveling so often and spending a lot of time focusing on my own projects, I didn’t nurture my friendships in the city as much as I could have.
I did have friends there, but sometimes when we all got together, I felt a bit of a disconnect. Not because anyone had done anything wrong, but simply because I had been away so much or wrapped up in my own routines. That experience taught me something important. Yes, independence is powerful; it builds confidence and self-trust. But it’s also important to find a balance between independence and community. We aren’t meant to do everything alone.
Looking back, my second year abroad gave me something incredibly valuable: Confidence. Not the loud, flashy kind, but the quiet kind that comes from knowing you can handle things on your own. I learned how to trust myself. I learned how to speak up when something didn’t feel right. I learned how to explore the world on my own terms. And I also learned that independence doesn’t mean shutting people out. It simply means knowing you’re capable, whether you’re standing alone or surrounded by others.
If my first year abroad was about discovering what I was capable of, my second year was about owning that capability. It pushed me outside my comfort zone in new ways. It showed me that I could travel alone, advocate for myself, and trust my decisions. But it also reminded me that growth is always about balance: be independent, be bold, and speak up.
But also remember to nurture the people and connections around you. Because the most meaningful experiences abroad often happen somewhere between adventure and community.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
