Liz Givens had an 18th birthday she'll never forget. The Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS) senior celebrated the day with a trip to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England, where part of the 2005 movie "Pride and Prejudice" was filmed. It was just one of many unforgettable experiences Liz had as an exchange student to the United Kingdom.

Liz, the daughter of Jason and Julie Givens of Elizabethtown, traveled to Birmingham, England, from August of last year through this past February. She acknowledged that it's not typical for high-school students to travel abroad for a semester, but she really wanted to do it, so she pursued the opportunity, even though it meant missing out on her senior year at EAHS.

"I had to apply to the program, and I had to get a passport," she said. "This was my first time out of the United States."

She narrowed down her destinations to places where English is the native language, because she has tree nut allergies, and she didn't want to risk her health because she couldn't read or understand the language.

Ultimately, she chose the United Kingdom, noting, "I've always wanted to go there. I'm a huge fan of literature and especially Jane Austen. I knew there were lots of places I wanted to see over there."

Liz stayed with a host family in the United Kingdom and attended high school classes. She made a lot of friends with both English students and other exchange students from across Europe.

Highlights of her trip included the visit to Chatsworth House as well as sightseeing in Ireland. She also enjoyed the cuisine. "My host family is Jamaican, so they incorporated a lot of spices in their food, which I really liked," she recalled.

Before she left on her program, Liz completed her credits to graduate from EAHS, and she'll walk with her class in May. She's now taking a gap year, working at Masonic Villages in the personal care department and planning additional trips to places including Hawaii.

Liz encourages other students to consider an exchange program. "It's a great opportunity to experience a completely different culture," she said. "You get to meet people that you'll be friends with for the rest of your life, and you get to have experiences you are never going to forget."

She admits that it took a little time to adjust to being so far from home, but she's so glad she pushed herself out of her comfort zone.

"It's hard when you leave home and you go somewhere you don't know anybody," she shared. "I'm a quiet person, but since going there, I've opened up a bit more. Talking to people I had never met was a struggle for me and moving into a stranger's home was scary, but I don't have any regrets about this trip. It opened me up to so many opportunities I want to explore. I have the travel bug now. I want to go everywhere and experience everything."