Name: Lauren Schnitkey
Type of Project: Study Abroad
- Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two
or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project
entailed.- I studied abroad in Toledo, Spain through the college of Spanish. I took two classes, went on outings with the staff from the school to get cultural tours, and I lived with a host family to learn about the everyday life of a Spaniard.
- What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your
view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP
Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or
transformation that took place.- I started to be able to stand on my own and I learned try new things without others supporting me. I think the most important thing that changed about myself was the understanding that I can be alone but still be happy. I learned the value of having people who know you around you, but I was taught independence. I gained new friends from different cultures that helped expand my views, as well as gaining a family in Spain. I gained knowledge of the history and culture in Spain that allowed me to see their culture in a different light, and I can apply this new viewpoint to cultures and costumes here in the us. There were many things that people from Spain did or viewed differently, and it was easy to see these things when I was surrounded by these people. Through seeing these differences, I was able to develop my opinions based on two different cultures rather than one.
- What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP
Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in
#2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing
the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project
that led to this change/transformation.- The school and the workers there played a big role in helping me adjust to the culture and start seeing the new things in Spain. They sessions that helped acknowledge the things that were done differently in Spain and gave us coping mechanisms. The people at the school really helped me feel like I was part of their community. They also set up opportunities for us to meet other locals to help us feel like we belong and that we had contacts in the town. So, the people at the school were the people who really helped me feel adjusted. The next group of people that affected me throughout my program was the other students that became my friends. They helped me have people from America that understood what I was going through and allowed me to connect with them. This group helped me feel comfortable enough to travel to different parts of Spain with them to experience different cultures and histories. Traveling to the other parts of Spain helped me develop my opinions of Spaniards and the effect of location on beliefs. Finally, the person that had the biggest impact on my growth as I was in Spain was my host mother. She allowed me to ask her all my questions about the culture and then she asked about my culture and experiences. She really helped me feel wanted and welcome. Also, she spoke no English, so it was my communication with her that greatly increased my Spanish skills. All of these people created the environment that allowed me to learn everything I did.
4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your
life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or
development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or
professional goals and future plans
Understanding different cultures is extremely important in life because it allows you to accept that some people see things differently than you do. This is a constant theme in life, many people will think conversely to you and you have to be able to communicate and possibly work with them. Going to a different culture was really helpful with my ability to accept others because they believe some things that I had never encountered in America, things I had never thought to question. So, hearing these beliefs was helpful for my future because it gave me the skills to discuss concepts thoughtfully. This experience also vastly increased my Spanish skills which I hope to use in my future profession.
I loved this experience and I am so grateful for all it taught me.