There are moments in life when one decision becomes a turning point of your life.
For thousands of students including me, that moment is after high school graduation and hesitating about the next step and path. Navigating many choices and options making the right choice becomes more challenging.
But let me take you into a story that shows why going abroad isn’t just an academic choice…
It’s a transformation.
Hi, I am Moustafa Abdelwahap from Egypt. At the age of 19, I dreamt of going to Japan for university.
I was told it was impossible.
I didn’t have anyone to rely on and ended up making biased decisions.
I applied to over 100 scholarships.
Rejected from almost all…
Except one.
Yes, I only got one offer
I packed my life in Egypt and moved to Japan which was a turning point in my life.
Lessons From My Own Journey
- You Discover Yourself: Leaving home shows you who you really are. You grow fast, more independent, confident, and mature.
- You See the World Differently: You meet people from different backgrounds, traditions, and mindsets. New cultures open your mind. You learn tolerance, fresh perspectives, and how to solve problems in new ways.
- You Pick Up the Language: The quickest way to learn a language is to live inside it. Studying or traveling abroad gives you daily real-life practice like ordering food, making friends, attending classes, or dealing with paperwork.
- You Boost Your Career: Global experience shows employers you’re adaptable and motivated. It sets you apart in any job market.
- You Find Lifelong Friends: Shared adventures abroad create bonds that last forever. You connect with people from different countries, share experiences, explore new places together, and build memories that stay with you for life.
- You Get Stronger: Challenges like homesickness or culture shock teach resilience. You learn how to solve problems independently, which is one of the most powerful skills you can develop at a young age.
- You Appreciate More: Traveling abroad helps you appreciate both the beauty of other cultures and the value of your own. You return home with gratitude, new ideas, and a better understanding of what truly matters.
That is the bright part of the story but behind the scenes, life is not easy like that.The reality was far more difficult
At the start of the application process, I nearly gave up on an opportunity that would change my life, because of the amount of rejections I received from schools. Without guidance, I felt completely lost.
Even when I moved abroad, The Reality Nobody Talks About
Studying abroad isn’t perfect.
You will feel lonely.
You will question yourself.
You will miss home.
You will wonder if you made the right choice.
But here’s the truth:
Growth doesn’t happen in comfort.
It happens in moments when you’re forced to rely on yourself, to speak up, to adapt, to rebuild from scratch.
And that is what made me stronger. Today, I managed to secure 5 international grants across 5 countries including Japan and won a prestigious scholarship in France (awarded to less than 0.5% of applicants).
In the end, if I could do it, so can you.
And if you ever feel lost the way I once did, you can reach out to me on Linkedin
*Ovaj je sadržaj izrađen u sklopu projekta koji financira Ministarstvo obrazovanja i mladih Republike Hrvatske. Sadržaj ovog materijala isključiva je odgovornost autora i ne odražava nužno stajališta Ministarstva.
