For the last two years of Secondary School, I dreamed about leaving home after graduation to explore the world. I didn't want to study abroad because I thought life would be better somewhere else. I wanted a challenge. I wanted to experience life in a different country, speak another language every day, become independent, and learn to manage everything on my own.
Many people ask why I chose to study instead of taking a gap year. For me, education has always been part of discovering the world. Choosing a study programme wasn't easy. At 19 years old, it's difficult to know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life. Instead of stressing about making the perfect decision, I reminded myself that education is never wasted. If needed, you can always change your programme or take a different path later.
I chose Denmark for several reasons. My father had been working in a neighbouring Scandinavian country for many years, so I had already become familiar with Scandinavian culture. I also knew that higher education in Denmark is tuition-free and offers excellent quality. Before applying, I joined a KASTU university tour and even attended university lectures myself. Seeing the teaching style with my own eyes convinced me that studying in Denmark would be completely different from what I had experienced before. I also visited universities in both Denmark and the Netherlands, but somehow my heart simply felt drawn to Denmark.
Getting accepted wasn't particularly difficult, but the application process required time and careful preparation. Writing a motivation letter, gathering all the required documents, and preparing for the IELTS English test took considerable effort. Throughout the entire process, KASTU was always there to answer questions, provide guidance, and offer reassurance whenever I needed it. Looking back, having experienced people to support me made the journey much less stressful.
Today, as a student at Aarhus University, I can honestly say that I'm very happy with my decision. University life turned out to be quite different from what I had imagined, but that's perfectly natural. Reality is often different from our expectations. I love living in a new city with so many places still waiting to be discovered. Aarhus is an incredibly international city, where you meet people from all over the world every day. At the same time, if you miss home, you'll probably even find Lithuanian friends here.
The studies themselves are not easy, but I believe that's exactly how it should be. Every challenge pushes me to keep improving, work harder, and move one step closer to my goals.
If I could give one piece of advice to future students, it would be this: listen to your intuition. Throughout my final year of Secondary School, I kept telling myself that if I wasn't accepted into Denmark, I would simply go to the Netherlands. But as time passed, I realised my heart was already set on Denmark. Sometimes you simply know where you belong.
And if your parents are still unsure about the idea of studying abroad, be patient. Give them more information, answer their questions, and help them understand your decision. They're on your side—they just need a little time to feel comfortable letting you go.
