Category Stories: Alumni Reflections
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Hawaiʻi: Study Away, No Passport Required
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Even though I’m chasing the goal of visiting every continent, I felt like the only person in my friend group that wasn’t going abroad this summer. Then I found the IFSA Hawaii program—a chance to study away without leaving the United States. I go to University of Georgia, and while Athens is a great college…
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The Most Valuable Thing I Packed Was My Passport
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When I arrived in London to study abroad, I expected to travel, gain independence, and learn from living in a new country. I did not expect one of my biggest lessons to be about privilege. As a first-generation student and Muslim woman growing up in Detroit, privilege was not something I often associated with myself.…
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Rethinking Success: How Study Abroad in Edinburgh Changed My Academic Path
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When I arrived at the University of Edinburgh in the fall of 2024, I expected my study abroad experience to feel like a variation of what I already knew. I looked forward to new surroundings and perspectives, but I assumed that academically, I would adapt quickly. It didn’t take long to realize that studying in…
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Reflections from Barcelona: There’s No Right Way to Study Abroad
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Before studying abroad, I thought I had an idea of what my experience was supposed to look like. I imagined constant travel, full weekends, new friendships, and a semester that somehow had to match the stories I had heard from friends and family. Without realizing it, I created expectations based on other people’s experiences instead of allowing…
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Eight Ways to Support Sustainable Growth While You Study Abroad in Dublin
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Studying abroad in Ireland is an opportunity to establish a deep connection with the country and its people and culture. For this connection to be mutually beneficial, it’s helpful to keep sustainable practices in the back of your mind. Here are some tips to get you started. 1. Buy wool. In Ireland, sheep are raised for a variety of food products, and wool produced by Irish sheep…
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Takeaways from Studying Abroad Twice
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Because I studied international policy, my professors encouraged me to study abroad to better understand how countries approach policy challenges. I chose University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, as I was doing research on international affairs in the Indo-Pacific region at the time. Beyond academics, my time in Sydney pushed me to step…
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How Edinburgh Art Influenced My Study Abroad Experience
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As a history and art history double major, one of the highlights of my time in Edinburgh was immersing myself in the city’s deeply rooted arts scene. Engaging with a new cultural landscape sharpened my perspective and deepened my commitment to pursuing a career in museum work and public history. Rethinking my U.S.-based assumptions Unsurprisingly, my favorite course this semester…
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How Study Abroad Helped Me Include Indigenous Perspectives in My Career Aspirations and Beyond
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I knew studying abroad would change and grow me academically and personally, but I wasn’t prepared for how deeply living and studying in Wollongong would reshape my perspectives. Looking back, it changed the way I think about the world around me through knowledge, sustainability, and the systems we rely on. I’m an environmental science major with an interest in urban…
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Discovering Peru’s Diversity: My Semester Abroad Across Mountains, Deserts, and Rainforests
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When I arrived in Lima, Peru, I was excited for a semester in a big city, improving my Spanish, eating delicious food, and dancing salsa. However, I did not know much about the country I had chosen to live in for the next few months, other than that it is famous for ceviche (a seafood dish) and Machu Picchu. Five months later, my study abroad experience…
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How Leaving the U.S. to Study Abroad Changed My Life
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Initially, I was hesitant to study abroad. Having never traveled outside of America, I knew I was committing to learning a new way of life and being alone in an unfamiliar country. Despite these uncertainties, taking this leap of faith taught me things about myself and allowed me to experience a new way of life and culture.…
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