Deciding to go abroad is a huge step for many people, and preparing to do so can be different from one person to the next. Students who choose to study abroad are not a monolith; each of us assumes varying degrees of risk upon embarking on our journey abroad. Personally, a great concern of mine prior to going abroad was making sure that I would be able to take care of my health while in Brussels.
During my high school senior summer, as I prepared to start my freshman year at Drexel, I was diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri, a condition that is often described as a benign brain tumor, (as the name pseudo-tumor literally suggests). The condition develops when an excess of cerebrospinal fluid accumulates, inducing extreme pressure within the skull and eventually causing vision loss. Over the years, I’ve gradually learned how to manage my symptoms, finding ways to keep myself stable and maintain a sense of normalcy.
Like many people with chronic illnesses, I’ve come to understand that no matter how much you learn about managing your condition, you lose control when an episode strikes. When episodes ensue, my optic nerve swells, causing the pulsatile tinnitus to become unbearable and my vision to become illegibly blurry. In Philly, my ophthalmologist is just a 5-minute walk from my home and my friends are only a phone call away. But abroad, the situation is entirely different, and there’s much more to consider when it comes to addressing a medical emergency.
Once I was accepted into the program, it became abundantly clear that I needed to create a solid support system to ensure my health and safety during my time abroad. I informed my study abroad supervisor at the host university of my condition and made sure that I had a reliable practitioner I could visit in cases of emergency.
For students with chronic illnesses, pursuing education—especially studying abroad—can come with its own set of challenges. We often feel hesitant about taking on opportunities that might put our health at risk. Despite the uncertainty, chronic illness should not keep you from pursuing exciting opportunities like studying abroad. There are people and resources available to support you—so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it!
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