The Smith Center is working to facilitate more international experiences like these Herbert study abroad programs to create global change agents across UTIA. These experiences not only show students that their post-college opportunities are endless, but they also equip them to be ready when those opportunities arise. In these firsthand accounts, students from a range of programs tell of exploring a variety of regions but all with a common theme: having access to international experiences fosters growth that leads to lifelong impacts. These study abroad stories dig a little deeper into the ways that international education can be transformative for students.
Belize
Anna Richards, a senior animal science major on the pre-vet track, traveled to Belize as a part of the Small Animal Veterinary Experience (SAVE) program. What made the program special for her was what the opportunity provided both clinically and personally.
Anna’s Perspective: “The SAVE program was extremely rewarding and impactful. It gave me valuable hands-on veterinary experience, as assisting in surgery and monitoring anesthesia were first-time opportunities that strengthened my clinical skills. Beyond the veterinary work, traveling through these communities and interacting with the people there broadened my global perspective, and it was overall an experience that I will never forget. This program impacted my studies in a way that left more of an impression than just sitting in a classroom does. When I get into the topics in veterinary school that I learned in Belize, I know I will feel prepared and ahead of it due to the real-world experiences I’ve already had.”
Costa Rica
Keeley Fitzgerald, a freshman studying environmental and soil science, took part in the Herbert College of Agriculture First-Year Experience in Costa Rica study abroad program. Prior to summer orientation, Fitzgerald had never considered studying abroad. When presented with the opportunity, the idea of furthering her academics abroad sold her on the program.
Keeley’s Perspective: “I’d never traveled outside of the country, and for it to be with people in a similar major as mine, for such an affordable price in comparison to what it could be, and such a beautiful country, it was an easy decision to make. I’m a big hands-on learner, so it was really fun to be able to get out, explore, and actually experience what we were learning about. Being outside the classroom inspired me to make the program as meaningful as possible. It’s a course that I will remember for the rest of my life, and it helped me build a foundation of understanding agriculture and natural resources. I also made lots of really neat connections while there and grew closer with people I hadn’t had the opportunity to befriend before.”
Cambodia
Ella Flynn, a sophomore studying agricultural communications, traveled to Cambodia as a part of her study abroad program. She shared her favorite parts of the experience from her own unique point of view.
Ella’s Perspective: “Cambodia didn’t just push me out of my comfort zone—it made me question why I had one to begin with. We had the opportunity to visit a site where a man had been planting mangroves and educating local Cambodian children on their significance to the ecosystem. To be able to participate and actually plant mangroves, we had to kayak. This may not seem like a huge deal to most, however to me, this was a pivotal moment in my life. For many years I had been scared to kayak because of experiences from my childhood. This one small step outside of my comfort zone changed my outlook on the trip, my life, and who I am. I found out I really enjoy kayaking, and this would turn out to be my favorite experience of the whole trip. I was riding the adrenaline rush of this moment for the remainder of the trip, choosing every day to take one more step towards new experiences, foods, and challenges that scared me at first. This experience taught me I can do hard things and most growth happens outside of our comfort zones. Since coming back from the trip, I have viewed everything differently. I have more patience and compassion for international travelers because of the compassion the people of Cambodia showed me.”
Greece
Ellen Black, a junior studying animal science, took part in the Greece: Food, Culture, and Sustainability program to further her studies internationally. She shared her desire to study abroad came from a longstanding curiosity about different cultures around the world.
Ellen’s Perspective: “I wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone and experience a different culture firsthand. I’ve always been interested in how people live and work in other parts of the world, and I felt studying abroad would give me a deeper understanding than just traveling. It also aligns with my goals of developing better communication skills and gaining a more global perspective, which I think is really valuable in my field.
In Greece, I was able to see how food production, agriculture, and local traditions all tie together, from farm to table. It helped me understand that animal science isn’t just about production, but it is also about how food fits into different cultures and communities. I would absolutely consider studying abroad again after this experience. It was such a valuable opportunity for both my personal and academic growth.”
Italy
Jacob Cohen, a senior studying construction science and management, traveled to Italy as a part of the Roman and Medieval Era Construction Methodologies program. Cohen enjoyed taking part in a new cultural experience and using the opportunity to broaden his perspective.
Jacob’s Perspective: “I had a very fun and interesting cultural experience in Italy. I found many of the tour guides we interacted with to be extremely helpful. They did a great job explaining the cultural reasons behind people’s behaviors, traditions, and routines, which helped me better understand why things are done differently than in the United States. This experience changed my perspective in many ways. It inspired me to make it a goal to experience as much of the world as possible, as learning about other cultures was very impactful to me. Academically, seeing history and construction firsthand helped connect classroom concepts to real-world examples. Professionally, this trip prepared me to better work with people from different backgrounds by increasing my cultural awareness and ability to learn from others, both internationally and within the United States.”
Japan
Abigail Scott, a senior studying plant science, traveled to Japan as part of the One Health in Agriculture and Natural Resources program. Scott especially enjoyed learning how people in different global environments live.
Abigail’s Perspective: “Learning about a different culture and learning how different people live in different conditions and environments is absolutely amazing. They have different priorities, and different things they do that we don’t do in America, which I think is amazing, and I just respect them so much for that. After this experience, I think I will be more respectful of my environment—I. already try very hard to be more respectful—but just being around people who don’t throw away trash on the street and carry it around with them until they get home, that’s amazing to me, and so I want to try and take that home and do that as well.”
MORE FROM THIS ISSUE
