"One of the best examples of becoming comfortable with unfamiliarity is living with a host family. Within one week I grew very comfortable with my host family just by conversing with them in my somewhat broken Spanish and diving right into the experience of full immersion."

"I learned that I'm more confident and independent than I knew - even in a foreign language. My interpersonal and Spanish skills improved so much in my time in Madrid, and I met some incredible professors and peers from Italy, Brazil, Croatia, France, and even Korea."

"As a Public Policy major, I would say that thinking about the history, culture, etc. of your study abroad location in real-time gives you much more perspective on the policies of today. Being able to interact with locals and gather their opinions on policies that might be unrecognizable or complicated to us as foreigners was really enlightening for me."

"During this process, I learned that I could not simply apply the thought process about how to solve public problems with my American perspective. I needed to learn the needs and wants of Czech citizens, and how they would approach a similar problem."

"The programming setup before the beginning of classes forced me to meet others and to trust myself. This made me more confident and allowed me to experience things I never would have otherwise. For example, I completed a surf camp, I tried skydiving, scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, and also explored both Thailand and New Zealand."

"Everywhere I went, either to a new country or to a discoteca, I made friends with new people. It was a wonderful feeling to learn that I could interact with so many people from various areas and backgrounds with ease."

"I used to think that studying abroad was so out of reach for me. It was never even a possibility in my mind until I saw a poster for this trip and read more about it. It was perfect as it was a short term summer course, meaning it wasn't a commitment of a whole fall or spring semester, which I really liked."

"By being on my own in a new country, my communication skills, adaptability, and time management grew exponentially. Similarly, by being able to work at a comprehensive internship, I honed my hard skills in various computer programs."

"Studying abroad sounds daunting in many ways, but it does not have to be. Many people are deterred by the myth that studying and living abroad is expensive. This is a myth-- studying abroad can be just as expensive as tuition, and even less! With a multitude of programs and countries, this experience is accessible to all."

"Getting to know people with a completely different worldview is not only fascinating, but also curiosity inducing. I did a group project with students from Norway, Mexico, and Scotland, heard the Scottish perspective on Brexit, and debated politics with my French roommate."