Leaving your home, family, friends, and school for six months might seem like a lot for a high school student. To Meryl Isaacson, they were all risks she was willing to take to experience a new journey across the world.

  For the first time at Granite Bay High School, junior Meryl Isaacson decided to take the steps to study in another country, Australia.

  “I’ve always wanted to live in Australia and I thought studying abroad would be the perfect opportunity to finally go,” Isaacson said.

  Isaacson originally was inspired by the idea of studying abroad because of her father, Jay Isaacson, who also took on the adventure in high school.

  Adjusting to a new lifestyle and moving in with an unfamiliar family can be a difficult task for anyone. However, Isaacson still managed to make new friends and make the best of her new life for several months.

 “I was worried about living with a family of complete strangers and being so far from home,” Isaacson said. “But they’re very nice and helpful in trying to make my stay here the best it can be.”

  Those who are close to Isaacson are also having to adjust to a new life at home. Although Meryl’s mother, Valerie Isaacson-Stock is excited about this opportunity for Isaacson, she has had to adapt to a household without her youngest daughter.

  “I am excited for Meryl to learn about diverse backgrounds and cultural differences,” Isaacson-Stock said. “But I really miss her a lot at home and the house is much more quiet.”

 Isaacson’s ambition and persistence  is what ultimately led her parents to trust in her ability to live on her own.  Isaacson’s strong-willed character relieves a lot of worry among family members.

 “Meryl has always been extremely independent, capable and determined,” Isaacson-Stock said. “She did all the research herself and many months of preparation to go; this was completely driven by her.”

    A close friend of Isaacson’s, Elizabeth Griffin, has also noticed the difference in daily life without her. However, she is glad that someone close to her is able to experience something as great as this.

  “It’s different not being able to see her everyday and not being able to hang out with her,” Griffin said. “But I know this is something she’d been wanting to do and it is going to be a great opportunity for her.”

  Studying abroad can be a tedious process. Hours of paperwork, tons of signatures, and long discussions with your academic counselors have to be completed. For Isaacson however, it was a dream of hers that she wasn’t willing to give up on so easily.

  “The paperwork and application was a lot of work and took a long time,” Isaacson said. “But it’s something I’ve wanted to do since 6th grade.”

  Being that Granite Bay High School has no experience with students studying abroad, Isaacson was the administration’s ‘guinea pig’. GBHS school counselor, Navjot Singh, was able to help Isaacson through the process.

   “As her school counselor I worked closely with her to make sure she was taking the classes that fit her academically and what she was interested in,” Singh said. “It is our role as counselors to make sure students are on track for graduation.”

  Many students will study abroad at younger ages for several different reasons.  Some go to be inspired, to obtain a new mindset, or to find a new perspective. Isaacson is hoping to return home with more knowledge on facing difficult situations.

  “I’m hoping this experience will make me realize how much I appreciate the comforts of home,” Isaacson said. “I’m also hoping it will help me have a broader outlook on the world and how other people live.”