I’m a journalism major. Outside of that, I also want to work towards Spanish proficiency and I also am interested in politics. I’m not so interested in being a politician, more so with political advising and communication, whether that would mean being a press secretary, aid, or being a speech writer. I’ve been speaking with advisors and I want to study abroad in Spain for a semester and participate in my school’s Washington D.C semester program. My financial aid would cover it and it wouldn’t put me behind on graduation because I already came in with a lot of credits earned in high school and I would be able to earn credits during these programs. Studying abroad in Spain would really help with my Spanish and the Washington semester would help me better define my career goals and options. I’m just a little afraid of what it’s going to be like to be off-campus for a year. I"m afraid my friends will forget about me, the mark I’m making on campus organizations will be completely forgotten. Some of my college friends I’ve known since high school and they said they will be my friends when I’m back and some of the new friends I’m making here, I will have a whole year to bond with them, so they will be my friends too. I go to school in PA. So, while I’ll be far in the spring in Washington, I could still come up about once a month to maintain those friendships. As for campus clubs, it only took me about a month or so to get established with them. Coming back, I’ll still have the skills I gained from these clubs and some students will remember me. Rationally, it makes sense but I still can’t shake the feeling of being scared and worry that maybe it’d be a mistake. Any advice?
My D1 did a semester abroad and then a Washington Semester her junior year. Her friends didn’t forget her, but she does say she wasn’t quite as engaged on campus her senior year. She found it well worth it, though.
@intparent Did she say why she felt less engaged?
Next year will be my second year of college so I will still have junior and senior year to complete.
One reason is because normally as a senior, you might expect to have a leadership role in clubs or activities. But because she was gone the whole year, she wasn’t really in a position to do that. Her school also allows a senior thesis, and she chose to do one. So she was really stressed by that, which is unrelated to the junior year off campus. But her senior thesis was nominated as one of the top 60 in her subject matter in the U.S. that year, so it was worth the effort. And she is still close with her friends from before she left (and they are a few years out of college now).
I’d go for it if I were you ! 
I think you ought to go! 
we’ll be looking forward on your venture. I’m about to take the same path as well (studying abroad)