Anna Lovell, the Baylor University Sustainability in North Queensland student blogger, writes:

Growing up, my parents never thought I would want to go far away to college in a different state, let alone study abroad somewhere 8,000 miles from home. Today as I write this, I’m studying for finals in Waco, Texas at Baylor University (2,000 miles away from home), and will leave in less than a week to study abroad in Australia (8,000 miles away from home). You could say that I have surprised them in my choices for where to study.

G’Day everyone, my name is Anna Lovell and I grew up in Spokane, Washington. Currently, I study pre-Business as a freshman at Baylor University. I am beyond excited for this trip to begin and to keep you updated with writing, pictures, and videos from my GoPro. Traveling to Australia will give me the opportunity to experience a different culture while learning more about their ecosystems and conservation.

I am really looking forward to learning in the field—more specifically in the Great Barrier Reef, as we actually have class on the water—and not in a classroom. Part of the reason studying abroad appealed to me was that part of your learning comes from the classes you take, but also the experiences you have while abroad.

In less than a week we will leave for Australia, where the outdoors will be our classroom as we snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, hike through the Daintree Rainforest, learn about Aboriginal cultures, and explore the coastal areas of North Queensland.
One of my favorite travel quotations—or at least one that has stuck with me—has been “Not all those who wander are lost.” So while I hope not to get lost while I’m in Australia, I do hope to wander and learn from my experiences while I try new foods, make new friends, and learn a new perspective.