Student of color

"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."

"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."

"My host family was amazing and showed me that complete strangers can become family."

Leaving the US to go study abroad in Japan was exhilarating because it was the first time I was alone and without any relatives nearby.

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

"I think the best thing to do is to be resilient in your beliefs and engage in constructive discussions with people from other countries with different viewpoints; we're abroad to learn more, after all."

"To adjust to the challenge I just embraced Nicaraguan culture while making a conscious effort to not compare it to American culture."

"Because ethnicity is such a huge part of the European population makeup, people will say "You don't look American." I would advise you to challenge their beliefs and respond with "Yes, I am American, and we are diverse."

"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."

"The hesitations of going abroad as minority group members due to safety, cultural reservations, or lack of seeing potential growth is common. However, I MUST urge you to do it!"