What I Wish I Had Known Before Studying Abroad | Livia Barbosa

Описание: Studying abroad looks exciting — until you’re actually living it.

In this first guest interview on The Successful International Student, I sit down with Livia Barbosa, a former international student from Brazil, to talk honestly about what studying abroad really demands — beyond grades, visas, and Instagram photos.

Livia shares the lessons she learned the hard way during her academic exchange in Mexico, including the mistakes she wishes she had avoided and the strategies that ultimately helped her succeed.

Episode 8
In this episode, we talk about:
🌍 Language overconfidence — why “basic Spanish” wasn’t enough and how it affected her confidence
📄 The hidden paperwork reality — the overwhelming administrative side of studying abroad
🔎 Why deep research before moving matters more than you think
🤝 Loneliness, isolation, and the challenge of making friends in a new country
🏫 The power of finding an ally at the International Student Office — and how one supportive advisor changed everything for her
🌐 How early virtual exchange experiences shaped her global mindset

Livia is a Business Administration graduate from the Federal Institute of São Paulo and currently works as an IT Financial Analyst at Mars Brazil, supporting global digital operations. Her journey shows that international success isn’t about being fearless — it’s about learning, adapting, and asking for support.

If you’re preparing to study abroad, already overseas, or feeling overwhelmed by the “invisible rules” no one explains — this conversation is for you.

✨ You are not behind. You are learning.

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💬 Comment below: What’s one thing you wish you had known before studying abroad?

For workshops, mentoring, and resources to help you thrive abroad, visit:
🌐 www.thesuccessfulinternationalstudent.org

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