Last summer I packed my bags, kissed my mother goodbye, and embarked on an unforgettable month-long adventure across Europe. As part of my study abroad experience, I explored five different countries: Austria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Among the countless memories created at iconic landmarks with new friends, one day stood out above the rest: our exhilarating day on the Danube River in Vienna, Austria.

At this point, our trip was coming to a close, and our flight home was set for the next morning. The thought process behind 26 21-year-olds was “Let’s go out with a bang.” We rented five or six small boats to accommodate us all and planned to jet set across the water in no time.

As we were relaxing on the water and enjoying the sun, there was a sudden energy shift among us; however, we all knew exactly what was happening. All 26 of us fled from our boats, ripping off shoes and shirts, and we cannon-balled into the river without hesitation. Truthfully, we all were just waiting for one of us to make the first move.

Laughing, splashing and playing mermaids in the river, we were having the time of our lives. During this moment of pure spontaneousness, we found ourselves creating a core memory. Whether we were allowed to jump in or not, it felt like the right thing to do. It was the perfect send-off to a perfect trip.

— Emily Gladu, administrative coordinator