How Living Abroad Changed My Self-Esteem

by Ottavia Bettelli
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In the coming weeks, I will be taking my life coaching exam. A key part of this process is writing a thesis, and the topic I chose is the relationship between self-esteem and experiences abroad, specifically, how self-esteem changes once we step outside our familiar environment and live away from home.
Through this space, I’d like to document my research and reflections, but also invite you to be part of the conversation. I hope this can become a place where we exchange thoughts, experiences, and perspectives.
Before diving in, let me introduce myself.

My name is Ottavia, and until about six years ago, the idea of leaving my hometown genuinely scared me. I felt deeply attached to what was familiar, to the point that even imagining a different life felt overwhelming. And yet, I chose Foreign Languages and Literatures, with a focus on Chinese, for my bachelor's degree.
That’s where I discovered the stories behind Chinese characters. I began collecting them in a small Tumblr blog called Questione di Caratteri.
For my master’s degree, I took my first real step out of my comfort zone: I moved to Rome to study Interpreting and Translation. It was there that the once-distant idea of moving to Asia slowly began to take shape.

In 2023, after many tears, doubts, and second thoughts, I finally took the leap. I left everything behind and moved to Taipei, where I started working as a social media manager.
That experience changed me profoundly.
Living abroad turned my inner world upside down. It opened doors within me that I didn’t even know existed. It made me aware of traits I had never noticed before, and helped me appreciate parts of myself that I once struggled to accept.
This is where the idea for my thesis was born: from my own experience.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever lived abroad? Did it change the way you see yourself? Did it impact your confidence or self-esteem? I’m curious to know if anyone has experienced something similar.