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Bonjour, Paris!

My study abroad experience sparked a lifelong passion for travel, lasting friendships and a broader world perspective.

By Lindsey Carr ’24

Illustration by Alessandra Scandella

As my friends and I lingered over our afternoon picnic on the grass, the sky transformed into a canvas of vibrant colors blending together into a beautiful sunset. My eyes were drawn to the Eiffel Tower, its silhouette standing out against the colorful sky. Then, as if on cue, the tower began to twinkle, its lights sparkling like stars in the City of Light. It was a moment of pure awe, one that filled me with a sense of wonder and gratitude for the world.

Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to be part of the month-long Europe Marketing Study Abroad Program in Mays Business School, led by Dr. Stephen McDaniel ’71 ’72. As 68 other Aggies and I traveled across France, the United Kingdom and Monaco, we not only toured companies but also interviewed locals to learn more about their culture and way of living.

Everywhere I heard a constant theme emerge: the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance and truly valuing the little moments that life offers. In contrast to our fast-paced and future-focused American culture, greater emphasis was placed on cherishing the now, reminding me that the present is really all that we have.
 

Lindsey Carr ’24 (far left) in front of the Eiffel Tower with friends.

As I sat beneath the brilliant glow of the Eiffel Tower—in what felt like a surreal moment of seeing it in real life—the desire to embrace this perspective and the certainty of wanting to return to this place lingered in my thoughts. It was there that I understood, among conversation with new friends on this unforgettable journey, that my passion for exploring different cultures and places had only just begun.

It’s been said by many, but it can’t be denied that expanding my horizons through travel gave me a broader perspective and a realization that there’s a vast and beautiful world waiting to be discovered. On this trip, I came to understand—in a way you only can when you venture outside your bubble—that I’m just a small part of something much bigger and more important. That simple but profound insight has ignited a deep desire to find my place in this world and to continue exploring, learning and growing with each new experience.

I’ll always have Aggieland, and the opportunities I found here, to thank for that.

Lindsey Carr ’24 is a marketing graduate from Georgetown, Texas. She loves hanging out with her friends and seeking spontaneous things to do. In her free time, you can catch her grabbing Sonic, playing pickleball, or, as you might have guessed, planning her next travel adventure with friends she met on her study abroad.

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