The following is a guest post written by Stephanie Espinoza who is a Junior at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas.

First of all, I would like to thank SOS Leadership for sponsoring me as I travel abroad for the next week with St. Edward’s University. I am about to take the trip of a lifetime. I am traveling to Italy!

As a college student I am so fortunate for this opportunity. I have never traveled out of the country before, so this will be a thrilling and exciting new experience. I never thought that I would have the chance to experience the world outside the United States. Yes, it’s very scary, but at the same time I’m more than ready to see what Italy has to offer. I am ready to explore a new culture at the other side of the world.

During my freshman year in college, a piece of advice that was given to me was to travel somewhere abroad. College is the perfect time to do it because once graduation comes around and you work full-time it becomes more difficult.

I hope to gain many things during this week: Culture, customs, history, language and much more. During our faculty-led trip, we are going to visit Expo Milano 2015, a global showcase where more than 140 participating countries show the best of their technology that offers a concrete answer to a vital need: being able to guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food for everyone, while respecting the Planet and its equilibrium.

I am eager to travel and discover what seems like a whole new world to me! I have never been outside of the U.S, and I think that Milan is the best place to start off! Friends that have traveled there before describe it as “walking through paradise” with all of the historic buildings and beautiful landscape. After this trip, I want to come back with a plethora of knowledge on the Italian culture. I know that I will gain much more than just visiting tourist sites and trying out the food (although I am really excited for the food!).

I am so grateful to have this opportunity. What I learn from this trip will help shape me as a leader. With this experience, I hope to gain knowledge on ways to become successful. I want to learn new ways of doing things. I want to broaden my horizons.

I am traveling abroad with a wide-open mind. I know this trip will help me on my leadership journey. It will help me continue to learn how to lead. As St. Edward’s likes to say this will help me “take on my world.”