School of Public Health

"I became more independent and self reliant and learned how to adapt to different cultures and different people. It gave me a different perspective on how others may view my own culture as well."

"I am a first generation African American college student that has lived in a single parent household my entire life. The best advice I would give any individual coming from any one of those backgrounds is to fully embrace themselves in the experience and try not to focus on things you cannot control or things going on back home."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Observing different cultures helps you to practice being more open minded. It's a skill we all need to have."

"I learned a lot about myself, too. I now understand resilience. I have a better understanding of how vast and complex the world is. I’ve learned that curiosity will always lead me to a fulfilling adventure."

"We experienced living in a village (San Jose de Uchupiamonas), which was the most heartwarming experience of the trip. The locals made us feel very welcomed and reminded us that we could call this place our home. I feel that we have left this trip with new mentors that we can call family."

"What was great about my experience abroad is that I got to apply my theoretical public health knowledge on a global scale. Putting into practice public health communication and having an impact on communities was a fulfilling and robust experience."

"Study abroad is possible for ALL MAJORS. It is possible for you to dedicate a semester to a study abroad program, if not, a winter/summer program. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and everyone should take advantage of it while you can."