Stepping outside her comfort zone: DSU’s Abby Kerr reflects on study abroad experience

August 13, 2026

For Dakota State University student Abby Kerr, studying abroad was an opportunity to see Europe for the first time, complete credits toward her international business minor, and challenge herself in an entirely new environment.

It became much more than that.

Kerr recently participated in a DSU study abroad trip, traveling out of the country independently for the first time. While she had always been interested in travel, the opportunity initially appealed to her because she needed three credits for her international business minor.

"When I found out I could do a trip, I was like, 'Yes, I'm gonna go for it,'" Kerr said. "I had never been to Europe, and I've never traveled outside of the country by myself either, so I was also excited for the challenge of that."

That challenge became very real during her first few days overseas.

"I was really nervous when I first went," she said. "I got there the first couple of days, and I was kind of like, 'Okay, I'm across the world all by myself. Do I want to be here?'"

Those feelings didn't last long. Kerr soon settled into the experience and began forming friendships with fellow travelers and people she met overseas.

"After those first few days of being scared, it was the best time," she said. "I met new friends that I'm going to have forever."

The friendships extended beyond the American students on the trip. Kerr remains in contact with friends she met in the Netherlands and said that connecting with people from different backgrounds became one of the most meaningful parts of her experience.

The trip also came during an important transition in Kerr's life. Having recently graduated with a marketing degree and preparing to begin her career, she found that traveling independently helped her discover how capable she was of navigating unfamiliar situations.

"I really think it is so important to grow and to go through the difficult times," Kerr said. "Being abroad by myself really brought out how much I was willing to go on by myself and figure out life a little bit, especially in this transition period."

One of the most memorable stops came near the end of the trip in Paris.

Kerr recalled sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower with a friend she had met during the experience. Neither had seen the landmark in person before. As they ate French bread and a Nutella crepe, they took in the significance of their surroundings.

Later, Kerr visited the Musée d'Orsay, where she saw works by artists including Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. As someone with a personal interest in art, seeing the famous works in person was particularly meaningful.

As the group prepared to leave Paris, a professor asked Kerr how she was feeling. The emotions of the experience caught up with her.

"All of a sudden, I just broke out into tears," she said. "It was really surreal."

For Kerr, that moment represented more than simply seeing a place she had dreamed about visiting. It reflected how much she had grown throughout the experience.

"I stepped out of my comfort zone. I went across the world all by myself, and I had immense growth," she said. "I was really proud of myself, too."

The experience also reinforced Kerr's academic interest in international business while helping her develop skills she believes will translate into her career.

"Academically, the trip really influenced me and piqued my interest in my minor, which is international business, and then just the business world in general," she said. "I think it helped me professionally acquire skills that employers look for: adaptability, cultural awareness, communication."

Those are among the benefits DSU seeks to provide through its study abroad opportunities. The University encourages students to consider international experiences to broaden their perspectives, develop intercultural skills, and complement what they learn in the classroom. DSU offers several study abroad options, including semester- and academic-year programs as well as shorter faculty-led international experiences.

For Kerr, experiencing everyday life in other countries also reinforced the value of understanding people whose experiences and backgrounds differ from her own.

"One of my favorite things was just seeing all the different types of people and backgrounds," she said. "It made me think how important it is to understand one another, not be quick to judge, and just come together and form more human connection."

Now, she hopes to continue traveling, meeting people, and expanding the network that began with her first experience overseas.

She also has simple advice for other DSU students considering taking the leap to study abroad.

"I'll forever be grateful," Kerr said, "and I encourage anyone to go do it."

Learn more about study abroad opportunities at Dakota State University.

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