Why you should set an intention for exchange

Elsie Gillezeau

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics 

2024 Semester 2, Exchange at George Washington University 

If you talk to anyone who’s been on exchange, they’ll probably tell you it was one of the best experiences of their life. But when you’re starting exchange or right in the thick of things it may not feel that way. Exchange is a challenge and can push you far outside your comfort zone. Setting an intention before going on exchange will help you to both narrow down your choices of where to go and get you through the difficult times abroad.  

Deciding where to go on exchange can be an overwhelming experience. When I was deciding where to go, I knew I wanted an English-speaking destination but there will still so many universities to choose between. Talking to people who have been on exchange or researching online (Reddit, Tik-Tok and YouTube) is a great way to start. However, I remember spending hours scrolling through forums only to be left more confused than before. This is where intention setting can be a great way to decide on your preferences. Ask yourself: What do I want to get out of exchange?  

There can be plenty of answers to this question. Some might say they want to have fun, party, make lots of new friends and just have a general break from university. Others might want their exchange to be about attending a top school, expanding their career opportunities and accessing world-class professionals and research equipment. You might want to learn a new language or go somewhere with an entirely foreign culture to explore. Perhaps you want to travel on exchange or reconnect with overseas family. Or you might want to live in a completely obscure destination where you’re able to be alone and learn more about yourself. Whether you have a combination of these intentions or something entirely different, knowing what you’d like the theme of your exchange to be will help you choose a university that matches these goals.  

While intentions help to narrow down your options, there’s a high chance you might get a completely different destination to where you selected, or you may be reading this already on exchange. This is when it is good to remember that intentions are flexible! When you arrive on exchange you quickly realise what potential there is for your time abroad. You may have set out to party only to realise its below freezing and nobody goes outside. Or you might have desired progressing your career opportunities, only to discover it’s not the cultural custom to interact with professionals. Two weeks into arriving on my exchange in Washington DC I sat down and reconsidered my goals for exchange. I was surprised by how much there was to do and see in the city (I expected it to only be a slightly bigger Canberra) and I was also let down by the lack of political action (despite it being the 2024 presidential election). So, I readjusted my intentions to be less politically and more culturally focused.  

The reason I believe intentions are essential to exchange, is that they minimise the negative feelings that come from comparing your experience to others, and they ground you during difficult periods. I have found it hard watching my friends in Europe (and back home) party and experience incredible nightlife, while DC sticks more to a 9-5 schedule. Reminding myself that it was not my intention to party on exchange helps remove some of this envy as I know fun nights will come again, whereas my time in DC is about different opportunities. When I’m feeling lonely or despondent about certain friendships on exchange, I remind myself that I set the intention of learning more about myself and that alone time is necessary for achieving this.  

In my room I have a piece of paper on my wall that reminds me of why I’m here. I might not achieve every intention, or I might in a month’s time change them altogether (perhaps I will finally find a decent club in DC and begin partying again), however I love the sense of purpose and guidance this list gives me. Like running a marathon, its far easier afterwards to say it was a great experience than to say that during the race or in the lead up to it. I assure you exchange will be incredible, but I encourage you to set some intentions that you can use as a tool before and during your time abroad. Exchange can be life-changing if you let it!