Student of color

"Being abroad in Vienna taught me not to be afraid of figuring out things by myself. If I get lost or can't find what I'm looking for, I change and create an even better adventure."

"As a black and Puerto Rican woman, I know that it can be discouraging to think about traveling to areas where you don't anticipate seeing people who look like you. Although I was the only black girl in my program in Barcelona and that intimidated me at first, I was able to meet great people and find comfort in my surroundings."

"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."

"Studying abroad, I've learned how important it is to stay flexible. Sometimes that simply means being willing to go on spontaneous hikes with your newfound friends. In more dire situations, it means rolling with the punches when your trains are late and you've missed your flight."

"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."

"The ease of access to countries with different cultures allowed me to grow my respect for people who are different than me and also see how it compares to other cultures by experiencing it. With this new knowledge, I believe it will help me understand and relate to people who are different than me in an easier way in the future work place."

"I learned how to communicate better, make new friends, problem solve, plan and organize my days better, try new things and overall it increased my love of travel and adventure. Professionally I worked in my first internship at a Public Relations firm in the city and learned so much about the industry from a global perspective."

"Increased Korean language skills will help me in my academic and professional career as my minor is in Korean studies and I want to become a foreign service officer so language skills are important in my career."

"Before this experience, I did not have a particular passion for global affairs. Studying abroad not only provided me with a comprehensive understanding of Spanish history and politics but also instilled in me a profound appreciation for international politics."

"I was able to make lots of new friendships and talk to people I may not have been able to interact with before. I expanded my social network greatly as I met people from all over the world and also a lot of students from UMD that I may not met without study abroad!"