In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay\u27s first paragraph.
In the Fall semester of 2007 I studied abroad in Santiago, Chile. It was a big step to move to South America considering that my house is only fifteen minutes away from campus. I would like to say it was the easiest thing I have ever done, but at the beginning it was a terrifying experience. I remember getting on the plane and hyperventilating because I thought I wasn’t prepared. My mind was racing with questions like “How can I manage the language? Will I make friends? Are Chileans nice?” I remember getting on the plane about to leave my country for half a year and thinking “Maybe there is still time to change my mind.” Luckily I didn’t change my mind and went through with it. It was the best experience of my life! What finally calmed me down on that hot July night was some prayer. I started breathing slowly and reciting those good old “Our Fathers” and “Hail Marys” I had learned as a toddler. I amazingly felt myself being calmed and almost immediately fell asleep. I woke up in Santiago de Chile. This was perhaps my first religious experience while studying abroad. Little did I know that there would be many more to come that would further teach me what people could do with the power of faith
