Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain as an exchange student at la Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Although the program’s duration was shortened to a blissful two months, my time there gave me an unforgettably life-changing and lasting experience that I will forever hold dear to my heart.

In my time abroad, there was a multitude of things I learned, but I believe there is one significant way of life there that altered the way I approached my day-to-day. There is an understood stillness to the pace of life in the Spanish culture. A cup of coffee is no longer the caffeine hit for the day, a break from classes isn’t the chance to squeeze in one more episode of the show you are binging, you aren’t rushing past friends to get to your awaiting lecture hall. There is a deeper appreciation for life and these seemingly small day-to-day things. There was so much time put into looking around and simply appreciating that moment. I was no longer feeling rushed over sprinting to my class that was across campus, rather I found myself attentive and present in each class and moment. This allowed me to see and truly appreciate these small wonders.

Throughout the program, I was able to interact with people across the globe of all backgrounds and interests. The university organized many social events to meet more students within the program and get to know one another. It was through these conversations over ‘tapas y copas’ that we all were able to share our thoughts and feelings over the extraordinary lives we all were getting to live out. My most favorite part about these introductions was hearing why people chose to study abroad – “I want to see the world”; “I needed a change from back home”; “I want a change for myself” – the idea of change was a common desire out of this program, which often troubled me throughout my time abroad. Of course, everyone, myself included, longs for an experience like studying abroad to try new things, live past their boundaries, find the change – the purpose to living out such a beautifully unimaginable reality. However, I found early on that through trying to find and make this grand ‘change’ within myself, I was blinding out the simplicities around me. I realized that change wasn’t going to come from a blurry weekend trip to Ibiza, it would come from the ‘now’, what was right in front of me. It would come from having the conversation in Spanish with the older couple in the café that was closing shortly, listening to how they had met as children and found each other again 12 years later. They have been married for 57 years, and he still takes his ‘cielo’ out dancing every Thursday. I know the waters of Cala Comte are incomparable, but I believe there is also beauty in stumbling into a conversation with strangers, and seeing how life has seemingly blessed them.

I remember arriving my first week, plugging in my headphones and roaming the streets every day until the sun would go down. I would walk up and down tightly enclosed alleyways; go in circles around the crowded Plaza Mayor, discovering a new exit each lap; and always finding myself sat in a café, drinking my fourth espresso of the day at the end. I lived off of fresh tomatoes and bread for that entire week, unsure of what produce I could buy that wouldn’t end up ruined by my attempted culinary skills – in the end, it was always those two items, and caffeine that would sustain me. I vividly recall the overwhelming nature of that week – having little contact with my family, using my phone only for music and the ultimate need for Google Maps when I strayed too far off. Looking back, I realize that that week may have been one of my favorite parts. I was seeing everything with fresh eyes, there were no expectations as to where one street would take me. I remember the first day, I walked five minutes south from my apartment, and right across the street stood the Palacio Royal – five minutes from where I lived. The next day, I decided to walk west, where in ten minutes I found myself inside the Museo del Prado, a place I would later come to weekly exploring each wing. In short, I found this first week quickly allowed me to see the blessings that lay in each corner around me. Looking at Velázquez and Goya paintings became a calming activity throughout my weeks, and sitting outside of the Palacio de Cristal was our afterschool hangout – it’s a beautiful realization to have when you take a moment to look at the moments you are living out, and find that they are the ones you have longingly wished for and dreamt about. I think I walked somewhere between 70 and 80 miles that first week, but despite blistering toes, those aimless adventures led me to a greater appreciation of those winding cobbled streets, and all of the beauties that lay between.

During my time abroad, I was able to befriend people from all over the globe. Yet, funnily, I became very close with another student from Ohio State – perhaps, the Midwesterners’ gravitational pull – who ended up later moving into my apartment after realizing the dorm experience in Europe wasn’t as glamourous as he had hoped. He moved in during our third week of classes; the same time at which we also had another roommate from the Netherlands joining us. I don’t think there is another way to describe how these two strangers quickly became two of the greatest people I’ve ever known other than by saying that God truly blessed me with them. They were both utterly unique, and so wonderfully bold and confident of the fact. There was never a moment with them that wasn’t filled with laughter or dancing. They taught me how to find abundance within limitations, to accept life’s circumstances and how to approach them with mindfulness and grace. I can truthfully say; indeed, this world is covered with magical sights and scenes, but finding the people who hold only loving intent and truths, people who exude authenticity and offer kindness, those are our hidden gems that can make life truly extraordinary.

Through the disarray of the last five months, I have found myself reminiscing on this crazily beautiful experience, nostalgic of my early morning metro rides and 10 p.m. household dinners. As easy as it may be to fuss over lost time, those short two months gave me more to learn about life than I have ever encountered elsewhere. I was able to come home with a sense of reassurance about people, and this messy world, and the unknowns of the tomorrows. So often, I think our culture forces us to follow a specific pace, one in which that can either set you up competitively, or steer you off track should you not keep up. I have found that my future should no longer rest dependent on the words of a resumé, or on the job that is the skipping stone to success – but rather through the passions we hold; only through these passions can we find the most precious successes. In regard to the pace of life, it only takes a moment to look up from our screens and smile at a stranger, or to sit down for a meal with others and really enjoy the food and conversation. Each day, we are given millions of small moments – these daily insignificancies that we constantly overlook; yet, should we take those few seconds to appreciate them, you could find immense beauty amidst the chaos.

For my STEP signature project, I used my funds to study abroad at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. As soon as I landed in Milan, I was in love. The city was so beautiful, and the food was amazing! I was excited to live in the heart of business activities of Italy.Being a finance student, I wished to broaden my international business perspective by taking multiple finance and international business classes during my time at Bocconi. But, while the semester did not go exactly as planned, I learned more about myself and business in two months than I have up to this point in my life.

My abroad experience was transformative to say the least. For myself personally, I have grown to appreciate the uncertainty in life and roll with the punches. I have always been a person who likes to plan everything out. However, when the COVID-19 situation took a turn for the worse in Milan, I was forced to develop a new way of thinking. I was travelling around Europe with the time I had left, balancing my schoolwork with trying to squeeze in as much sight-seeing as possible. I was making travel plans hours in advance, which was something so unfamiliar to me. I was growing in ways I did not think I would or even could, but in the most bizarre way the COVID pandemic helped me become someone who is more “go with the flow” and not so type A all the time.

As for my view on the world, my favorite thing about traveling during my time in Europe was getting to interact with the local culture everywhere I went. I loved talking to my waiters and waitresses and getting recommendations from them. I loved experiencing the local places to see—not just the well-known tourist sights. I saw that no matter where I went there were good people, who all had the same mindset. Everyone I met had such an open view of the world and traveling, it was something so unique to experience. Before January, I had only been to Italy in Europe, so seeing all the different cultures from each place I went was really cool. I enjoyed comparing each place I went to see the differences in the cultures and tried to understand why each culture was the way they are.

Off the top of my head, the COVID situation was definitely an event that caused a lot of transformation in myself as well as in my project. Not only did COVID teach me to roll with the punches and be quick on my feet, it showed me how much love there is in this world. Even after I left Italy, I really enjoyed seeing the social media posts about “One Italy” and How everyone, especially in Milan, had come together to fight the pandemic. Seeing and experiencing this firsthand truly transformed my view of the world and what it can be. While the COVID situation was not ideal, it made me realize that when everyone comes together, we are stronger than any unforeseen circumstances.

Another event that really stuck with me in my time abroad was when I was in Munich, Germany. Each year they have a costume festival, where everyone gathers in the center city square to celebrate the Munich culture. There was dancing, singing and everyone ate traditional German dishes like Bratwurst. It was really cool to be there for this event, I loved seeing everyone celebrate their culture with such pride. Everyone was so friendly and loved to share stories about what Munich meant to them.

My last experience that really stuck with me was going to the Sunday market in Sicily. I really enjoyed getting a taste of the culture by experiencing it hands on. The Sunday market is a really big deal in Sicily, where thousands of people come every weekend to get fresh fruits, spices and meats. This was probably one of my favorite days in Europe. We walked around for hours trying all the different dishes and talking to the workers themselves. I really felt like I immersed myself in the Italian culture this day, and I have felt a connection to it ever since.

All the challenges I experienced in my two short months in Italy are ones I will value for the rest of my life. I know that in both my career and personal life, I will not get upset when one thing doesn’t work out how I planned. Instead, I will develop a Plan B, C, or even D to ensure I accomplish my goals. I have developed a new sense of grit, which is very important for my success in my career. I have also developed a new love for travelling that I hope to continue for the rest of my life. I know that everything I experienced abroad happened the way it did for a reason, and while it may have been unconventional, I am forever thankful for the time I spent in Europe. There is truly nothing else like Europe, and I am grateful that STEP allowed me to experience and grow in this place. I have grown and learned so much about myself and I will use the tools I acquired over the past few months for the rest of my life.

I spent 10 days studying in Georgetown, Guyana working on the beginning stages of a service-learning project. My 16 classmates and I began to establish relationships with three developing regions in Guyana for the future collaboration on sustainable energy projects with OSU. We consulted with the locals to comprehend the community’s perspective and aspirations for the planning of solar energy and water treatment systems. 

During my time in Guyana, I was able to explore diverse cultures and cuisines. I learned how the Guyanese people have a drastically different way of life compared to the average US citizen. People who live in the US have the luxury of obtaining clean water at the twist of a handle and overall have more advanced technology to improve their standard of living. Many people in Guyana do not possess these luxuries and being able to witness this first-hand during the trip was life-changing. This was the first humanitarian engineering class I took at OSU and I was inspired to use my degree to uplift people in developing regions of the world. I made friends with many genuine and kindhearted people on this trip.

One of the regions I met with was the Aliki community. I met a multitude of hospitable individuals within a village of 300 to 400 people. They collected water from the brown colored river surrounding them and added a cap full of bleach as treatment. There, I saw families who had to travel a great distance in order to receive potable water. Seeing this first hand made me realize how fortunate I am to have easy access to such amenities. Additionally, the villagers did not wear shoes because they had very muddy terrain, which brought their first request of paving a new walkway. We talked about how we could develop a solar energy farm for the community and educate them for proper maintenance. This day gave me a lot of perspective on my privilege.

My class had made the trip to Guyana to assist in developing infrastructure. I was amazed by the natural beauty of our destination. About 90% of the country is made up of rainforest reserves. I was inspired by how the entire country was so focused on long term sustainability. Seeing the renewable and efficient practices of the people of Guyana, I found it incredibly essential that people in the US should learn from their eco-friendly lifestyle. We went to the country’s science fair day, and each group of students came up with a sustainable energy prototype. For example, some students focused on oil spill clean up equipment while others dedicated their time to planting trees. I hope I can incorporate some of the sustainable practices I learned in Guyana to the projects I work on at home.

One of the days in Guyana we met with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and learned about projects and goals they hope to tackle in the near future. This day was especially intriguing for me because I got to hear directly from the city’s head civil engineers. I remember hearing about these projects and wondering how I will be able to get involved in similar projects in my future career.

I really enjoyed learning about humanitarian engineering because I realize how I can make an impact on something greater than myself. I already enjoy giving back to my community with fundraisers and volunteer opportunities. Now, I have a newfound passion to expand these values around the globe and in my career. This project inspired me to apply to a senior Capstone project that develops water treatment systems in Tanzania, Africa. This experience in Guyana was transformative in teaching me about my privilege and how I choose to act upon it going forward. I have already seen the impact of this project translate to my studies and career aspirations.

Seville, Spain

Lisbon, Portugal

My STEP Signature Project was a study abroad program through the Office of International Affairs in Seville, Spain. Through this project, I was able to take classes in Spanish through a third party institution based in Seville, COWA, for the spring semester of my junior year. In addition to my classes, the program offered educational excursions through various cities in Spain that enhanced my cultural knowledge. Lastly, I was able to live with a Spanish family to enhance my immersion experience and improve my language fluency.

Through my semester in Spain, I experienced a complete personal transformation. First, I became much more  confident in myself. I realized that I am capable of traveling to a foreign country, living with a family from a completely different culture, and overcoming obstacles without the safety net of my parents. Before coming to Spain, I could not completely fathom how I would manage to live in another country that does not speak my first language. However, I found myself well adjusted in Seville and quickly felt like a local rather than an American tourist. This realization made me more open to the idea of living in a foreign country full time after graduation. As I overcame language barriers and travel-related obstacles, I could feel my self-doubt slowly dissolving and my adaptability strengthening.

Another surprising personal transformation was my view about the role of my family in my life. In Spain, family is highly important and has an influence on Spaniards throughout their entire life. Many young adults live with their parents long after they graduate from university and it is not looked down upon like it is more in the United States. Families are extremely willing to support their children and elderly. Often times generations of family members stay living near each other and continuing traditions, which is a much different perspective than my family holds.

Unfortunately, my study abroad experience was cut in half due to the coronavirus outbreak. Although this was very upsetting, it made me value all of the time I was able to spend with my family that I otherwise never would have been able to experience. My family was struck with a devastating loss that many families have dealt with during this outbreak and I am grateful to have been safe at home during this difficult time.

There were several specific instances that allowed me to grow personally and increase my self-confidence. When I first traveled to Spain at the beginning of my trip, I unfortunately missed two flights: one connecting me from Chicago to Germany and another from Germany to Madrid. As I was traveling alone, I was forced to deal with these issues by myself and wait for hours in customer service lines to reschedule my flights. Ultimately, I traveled for approximately 25 hours and arrived in Seville much later than the rest of my program. Despite the stress of these travel issues, I was surprised to feel a sense of accomplishment and preparedness when I arrived at the hotel in Seville.

The next few days in Seville tested both my Spanish language abilities and self-sufficiency. I moved into my homestay the second day and was immediately practicing my Spanish with my host mother. This was very challenging but after a few successful conversations I had hope for the rest of the semester. I also had to go to a Spanish bank to exchange my dollars for euros, go to a phone store to set up a cell phone plan, and purchase a metro card to use the public transportation. It was little obstacles like this that I handled by myself using Spanish that allowed me to feel more confident and capable of living in Spain. It suddenly did not seem so daunting to be an American living in a Spanish-speaking country. Throughout the rest of the semester, I traveled to different Spanish cities as well as Portugal and Morocco. Each time, I overcame language barriers and cultural differences.

In the end, my confidence in myself allowed me to focus on learning the culture and meeting new people. The relationships I made with other like-minded travelers and students inspired me to think in a more global mindset, as well as become a more independent person. I met several women staying in youth hostels who were traveling the world alone without fear of cultural differences, language barriers, or travel complications. They all had a mutual understanding that problems always arise, but these moments of discomfort are ultimately opportunities for growth. These relationships completely changed my perspective of the world and empowered me to continue my travel journey after the coronavirus outbreak is managed.

This personal transformation I have experienced will remain highly valuable for the rest of my life. Before I went to Spain, I was obviously interested in the Spanish language since I was a Spanish minor. As a business major, I thought it would be exciting to work for a company in a Spanish-speaking country. However, I did not truly believe I would be capable of doing that alone. It seemed impossible to truly live in a foreign country without being able to rely on a family member, partner, or friend to help me along the way. I doubted my ability to embark on such a journey alone, but after fully immersing and thriving in Spain I can absolutely see this as possible. In fact, I find myself constantly researching different opportunities for post graduation that involve moving back to Spain. It is hard to imagine myself not continuing traveling and meeting new people from different countries. Now, this feels even more feasible and I am no longer held back by my self-doubt. I am so grateful for this experience for not only the knowledge and cultural awareness I have gained, but also the personal transformation that I have undergone.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

During Spring of 2020, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Salzburg, Austria. I took classes in Austrian Literature, Austrian Culture, German, and Music History. While I was there, I was able to travel to Spain, France, Germany, and Hungary on the weekends, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

2. 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.

While completing my STEP Signature Project, I think what changed most about myself is my confidence. Prior to my study abroad experience, I had travelled out of the country, but only ever with my family or with my volunteer group. This was the first time I had traveled internationally alone. That meant I was in charge of making sure I had my boarding passes and passport, as well as making plans for travel after I arrived at the airport. After doing this successfully multiple times during my study abroad, I have so much more confidence in myself and in my abilities. Additionally, my self confidence in being in unfamiliar situations has also increased. The thought of being thrown into a new atmosphere without knowing anybody was really stressful for me while I was getting ready to depart. However, by the time my project ended, I had made many new friends and successfully navigated that hard situation. If I am every in a situation like that again, I feel confident that I can do it without too much worry.

Along with every other student who studied abroad during spring of 2020, my project was cut 9 weeks short due to Covid-19. While I was extremely disappointed that the semester I had planned for so long was ending so abruptly, I did learn a lot about myself and the world while going through that intense experience of getting home. I think the most notable change in my world view would be how interconnected the US and Europe is. Within a few days of the US announcing their border was going to close and the population was going to start quarantining, Austria and the EU announced the same thing. I knew COVID was bad in Italy, but I thought when I got home to Colorado everything was going to be normal. Obviously, I was wrong. I think the experience not only showed me the seriousness of Covid-19, but it also opened my eyes to the interconnectedness of the world, especially between places like the US and the EU.

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.

Many of my memorable experiences I had in Austria that increased my confidence had to do with Covid-19. However, I don’t want to focus solely on that, because I had so many other wonderful experiences before everything turned upside down. While in Salzburg, I lived in a homestay with an elderly Austrian lady. I really enjoyed it. It was exciting to learn Austrian culture, and to also eat her wonderful Austrian cooking! Because I wasn’t living in the dorms, I had to take the bus everywhere I went, including to class and downtown. After just a few weeks, I had completely mastered the bus system, and memorized the schedule. This not only increased my self-confidence, but also improved my time management skills. If I missed the bus, there wasn’t another one until 15 minutes later!

Another experience while I was abroad that really helped me grow into a better, more confident person was when I went to visit my family in France. Due to my cousins kindly inviting me to stay with them at their house, none of my friends from Salzburg could come. It was an 8-hour train ride with multiple transfers. Leading up to this weekend, I was really hesitant about if I should go or not. I was worried about traveling alone, to a place I had never been before. However, I took the leap of faith, and that ended up being one of my favorite weekends from my time there! I had to stay focused on keeping myself and my personal artifacts safe while on the train, but I had no problems during the trip. I’m really proud of myself for doing that alone, and I now have the confidence to do that again in the future.

Lastly, the Covid-19 crisis was a huge learning experience for me, as I’m sure it was for all students who were abroad during spring of 2020. After Italy got hit really badly by the coronavirus, my fellow classmates and I knew it was only a matter of time before our program got sent home. All within a few days, President Trump had announced the travel ban and the Salzburg staff notified us that we had one week to leave. This caused mass panic among my classmates, because people thought we were going to get locked out of the US. While I knew this was not the case, I still had to keep myself calm while some of my classmates bought expensive last-minute flights. After sitting on the phone with customer service for 4 hours, I got my flight changed. However, that flight was cancelled and rescheduled twice before it finally was confirmed. I made it on one of the last trains from Salzburg to Munich before Austria closed its boarders, and the pilot of the plane announced that my flight was the last one out of Munich for a long time. Of course, this entire process was extremely stressful for everyone. Being someone who struggles with anxiety, I had to force myself to not panic in this situation. I put all of my focus into what I needed to do to get home safely, and just took things one step at a time. I tried not to fixate on the “what if’s”, and just keep myself focused one day at a time. Being sent home from Covid-19 has transformed me, in a way that I might not have been if my study abroad had been “normal”. I am proud of the way I handled that stressful situation, and remained calm while others were panicking.

3. 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.

Since starting college, I have started to struggle more with my anxiety. In addition to normal school stress, I overthink and overanalyze situations to the point that I struggle to focus on the task at hand. In dealing with my return home from Austria, I am really proud of how I was able to remain calm and focused during such stressful times. I was able to pack without forgetting anything, catch all my trains and flights on time, and even got to spend my last day relaxing and walking around the city that I had grown to love over the semester. This transformation will be so valuable going forward in my life. One of my goals that I am constantly trying to reach is to control my anxiety better. In my future career, there will be times where I am stressed, times where it feels like nothing is in my control. In those moments, I can reflect back on the courage I had during spring of 2020 and remind myself to focus on the little things that I can control; attitude and actions.

In my personal life, my study abroad project has helped to have more confidence in myself and my abilities. This is valuable for my life, because I will continue to be put into new social groups with people that I am not familiar with. Learning to adapt in new environments and social situations has been a huge takeaway from my semester abroad. I have learned that when it comes to being in big groups, you don’t need to be friends with everybody. Finding two or three good friends can lead to closer relationships and more trust between friends! I am guilty of falling into the trap of always comparing myself to others, especially when it comes to abilities and achievements. Meeting so many students from all over the country has helped me to better understand how everyone has their own, unique contributions to give, and that my story isn’t defined by what I have or have not done. After traveling to France alone, my newfound confidence in my travel skills has given me the want to travel abroad alone again. One of my academic goals is to teach English abroad, and my STEP signature project has given me the tools and attitude I need to pursue that goal further!

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

For my step project I studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria. It was truly an amazing experience in which, I learned a lot about the language, culture, and history. I was able to broaden my horizons and really grow as a person.

2. 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.

My understanding of myself and my world view changed drastically over my time in Austria. One way that I transformed personally was that I learned how to be a lot more self-sufficient and confident. Living in a new country where they don’t speak the same language can be very scary. I was able to successfully navigate the country as well as the surrounding areas due to my new-found ability to live on my own and be confident while doing it. I also transformed by developing a new outlook of the world. I learned how the Austrians operate in day to day life as well as their politics and essentially just the way that they do things. I learned that there isn’t just one way to do things and that the United States has a lot of policies and systems that could use revamping.

3. 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.

My ability to be self-sufficient/ confident as well as my improved world view came from a variety of experiences during my trip. The whole experience of studying abroad in another country lends to the development of all of these traits. Living on your own in a country where they don’t speak the same language with very few Americans around makes you have to develop these traits fast. I had to navigate multiple foreign countries all on my own. I had to ask for directions, order food, meet new people, all in a place that is totally different from what I knew. All of these instances helped develop an air of confidence. After accomplishing all of these feats I knew any simple interaction wasn’t hard, and traveling was easy, and since I was able to do all of these tasks, I knew I could do anything.

Besides confidence, I learned a lot of my new world view from learning about Austrian culture through my culture class that I took. We learned all about Austrian history, politics, governmental systems, sports, music, really everything, and we discussed in depth the cultural differences between the united states and Austria as well. This really opened my eyes to new ideas and different approaches to everyday life. There are more efficient and better ways to do things than what we have in America, we are not a perfect country that everyone seems to believe.

One example that I found fascinating is the Austrian prison system compared to the united states. The Austrian prison system helps rehabilitate the prisoners and makes each prisoner leave with a new job. This just shows how there are other approaches to everything and the United States needs to be able to learn from other nations across the pond and not think that it’s their way or the highway.

All in all, my experiences on my own in another country and my classes really transformed my outlook on life and the world.

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.

This project has allowed for changes in my confidence, ability to be on my own, and even my language skills. These positive changes are very significant and valuable in my life because of how these skills are applicable in all areas of my life. In my academics and professional spheres, my ability to speak German more fluently will have a large impact. I will be able to do better in my German classes, as well as be able to use my German as a part of a potential career one day. Confidence and self-sufficiency are skills that can be applied to all aspects of life. Whether that is with social interactions, at job interviews, or just living without your parents, these two skills are very valuable.

1.Please provide a brief description of your STEP signature project.

My study abroad program, Arcadia in London, started on January 5, 2020 and ended early on March 15, 2020 due to COVID-19. I studied at both Arcadia University in London and the London College of Fashion. During my time abroad I spent time in England, Hungary, France, Spain, Monaco, Austria, and the Netherlands.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project?

The lessons that I have learned during my study abroad experience will be fundamental in my future academic, personal, and professional endeavors. Living in a foreign country has caused me to become the most culturally aware I have ever been. I come from a small, suburban town in California with little diversity. By living and traveling internationally, I was exposed to a broader cultural point of view that I would not have been able to experience otherwise. I was also able to broaden my cultural point of view in my academics while in London. I was able to collaborate with local and international students, develop new perspectives surrounding the international fashion world, and learn the importance and power of differing cultures between peers.

Along with becoming more culturally aware, I have become more independent. Moving to a foreign country alone, not knowing anyone, was the most nerve-racking yet rewarding decision of my life.  I was forced to seek out new opportunities and resources that I would not be comfortable doing while home. I was faced with new challenges that I had to solve by myself, helping me grow independently. I have gained a new form of confidence that will help me in my last years of college and in my life going forward.

By getting my program cut short due to COVID-19, I gained a new appreciation for each day. I realized that It is important to live each day like it is my last and to always appreciate what we have in the moment. My abroad experience was the best three months of my life that I will cherish forever. I will forever be grateful for the people I met, the memories I made, the places I travelled to, and the lessons I learned.

3. 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?

While studying at the London College of Fashion, I had classmates from various different countries. One of my professors alone has lived in London, Madrid and Milan. My classmates were from the United States, France, Sweden, China. Having different cultural backgrounds than my classmates was a once and a lifetime opportunity that I will remember forever. Being in a group with two girls from Paris for my Visual Merchandising class was intimidating to me at first, but we were able to use our cultural differences to our advantage and learn from each other for the duration of the semester.

A monumental step in becoming more independent was during my trip to Nice, France. I decided to take a different flight home to London than the friends I was traveling with, as it was the cheaper option. Their flight took off to London minutes before my flight got cancelled. I was stuck in a foreign country alone, not knowing the language or what to do. I had to tackle this challenge all by myself and trust myself that I could figure it out. Being able to overcome this challenge gave me more confidence in myself as well as independence.

Living in the global city of London, I often experienced culture shock. The common stereotype placed on the United Kingdom revolves around wealth and a class system. This is not what I experienced. Through one of my courses, we visited various diverse neighborhoods within London and analyzed them. Whether it be through these field visits or my own travels, I became more culturally aware each day while abroad.

A big surprise to me while studying abroad was the way classes were taught. In America, we are taught to memorize information for an exam and are not forced to utilize the information we learn. In London, they do not give exams often. In each of my classes, we were given practical exercises to truly immerse ourselves in the course material. I was able to retain the information at a deeper level than I have before.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life?

The lessons that I am able to take away from my study abroad program are fundamental in all areas of my life going forward. While traveling abroad, I gained a new perspective on how people express themselves in regions outside the United States. I plan to use this new perspective while working towards my degree to have a broader point of view that is relevant to a larger group of people. Living in and travelling to foreign countries, where I constantly conversed with my peers, taught me more about the world around me than I could ever learn back home.

Becoming more independent during my time abroad will be not only help me in my future academic endeavors, but my professional life going forward. Along with becoming more independent, I was able to improve my resourcefulness, confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills. I can confidently say that due to my time abroad, I have become the best version of myself. Everything that I have learned in my three short months abroad will be monumental to my future professional, academic, and professional life.

Regent St, London (Outside London College of Fashion) 

Tower Bridge, London

London Eye

 

Strasbourg Study Abroad Lessons

Will Swinton

For my STEP Signature Project, I decided to study abroad at the École de Management in Strasbourg, France. I chose to study abroad in order to gain valuable international exposure while furthering my academic, professional, and personal interests. By studying abroad, I was able to immerse myself in a foreign country’s culture and make unforgettable memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

My STEP project provided countless opportunities for self-reflection and, as a result, personal growth. The hundreds of new people that I met, the immersion in a foreign country, the new responsibilities, and the unique conditions of independence provided me with immense opportunities for both professional and personal development. On a daily basis, I found myself constructing new introspective thoughts that I otherwise would not have had the benefit of learning from all while living in a uniquely special situation. By facilitating, to the best of my ability, an experience that took me far out of my comfort zone, I benefitted from opportunities to expand my global consciousness and cultural competencies all while learning a considerable amount about myself.

Concretely, I gained a substantial amount from interacting with people from all around the globe. In fact, within my first week in Strasbourg, I had met people from every continent apart from Antarctica! Upon meeting so many students with a much more varied cultural background than I am used to, I made it my goal to create lasting bonds with as many people as possible. By the end of my trip, I was closer than I could have ever imagined myself to be with fellow students from Norway, Columbia, Morocco, Greece, Italy, Ireland, China, Australia, just to name a few. I found it fascinating to share stories and cultural dialogue with these peers. Conversations about cultural norms, traditions, current events fueled our discussion. Thanks to the new friends that I made from around the world, I was fortunate to broaden my cultural understandings and become a more globally-aware and internationally-minded individual.

The next most significant contributing factor to my personal development from my STEP signature project was the deepened independence that I gained by immersing myself in a foreign country. Organizing my study abroad opportunity was, at its shortest, an almost two-year endeavor. From saving money, anticipating a likely monthly budget, organizing living arrangements, and coordinating travel plans to standard tasks like doing laundry, buying groceries, and maintaining a budget, studying abroad provided unique opportunities for my independent growth. As opposed to having everything taken care for me, it was my responsibility to organize all aspects of the trip. Cultural, I was fortunate to have prior experience living in France during an internship in 2018. However, during this opportunity, I did not have to organize my lodging, weekly meals, or laundry arrangements. Thankfully, I gained exposure to living in a foreign country before studying abroad, however, my experience in Strasbourg this year allowed to me to become even more independent by forcing me to manage more intricate details of the experience. Thankfully, I am proud to be a more independently successful and productive individual from my time studying abroad.

A final opportunity for growth that came from studying abroad came entirely unexpectedly in the form of a global pandemic. It is easy to imagine that one of the last things that I was anticipating to occur during my semester in France would be an international biomedical crisis. However, it rapidly developed into a situation that directly affected me. After an incredible two months of learning and growing, it became apparent that I would have to make the difficult decision to leave France earlier than I had anticipated. For many reasons, I found it hard to determine whether the best option would be to wait out quarantine alone in France or return to America for quarantine. While I found it challenging, and dealt with substantial regret upon making my mind, I consider coming home the most mature decision that I made while studying abroad. Ultimately, the toughest choice that I had to make in France was the one that I learned the most from. I learned that, sometimes, the best decision to make is also the one that is most difficult.

While studying abroad, I had the fortune of meeting hundreds of new friends from across the world, all walks of life, and personal backgrounds. The lessons that I learned on a daily basis with these individuals that will forever be powerful influences in my life have helped and will continue to shape me into a culturally conscious individual that I strive to be. The memories that we shared will stay with me forever, as will the advanced understanding of different nations and cultures around the world. The challenges of holistically organizing all aspects of my study abroad opportunity taught me valuable lessons in productivity, independence, and resourcefulness. I have no doubt that I have become a more responsible and well-rounded person. Finally, the most challenging and unanticipated situations that I experienced earlier this year illuminated crucial perspectives on my values and beliefs that I will carry onward as I continue to grow and mature. I have always believed that the most challenging scenarios can be most conducive for progress, and I consider the decisions that I made concerning my study abroad experience to be challenging circumstances from which I have learned a great deal.

My STEP signature project led me to study abroad at Alliance Manchester Business School. I was able to study business at a foreign university, meet people from all over the world, and travel to several surrounding countries in Europe. I put myself in a very different learning environment than I have ever been in and it was a very interesting experience for me. Overall, this taught me a lot about myself and the other cultures of the world I live in.

Personally, I think my understanding of other cultures has changed the most because of this project. Before, I had never left the country and most of my friends grew up in a way similar to how I did. Now, not only did I live in another country, but I also travelled to several others and have made friends with people from all over the world. I learned about the history and cultural customs of England while I was living there. I loved participating in events (football games, pub crawls, socials, etc.)  that they normally partake in while I was there and I always loved hearing the sayings/ slang (“sound as a pound,” “can’t be arsed,” “I’m chuffed to bits”) and learning what the translation was. When I travelled to other countries, I visited a lot of historically significant sights and learned a good deal from our tour guides and in museums. Furthermore, some of the friends I made were from places like Brazil, Peru, Africa, Hong Kong, India, Canada, etc. so I ended up learning a lot about their cultures too. I am even currently staying with my friend and her family who are from Brazil!

Also, I learned a lot along the way about myself. Specifically, I learned more about how I like to learn and what I respond to. In the UK, school is quite different from how it is in the US. I knew it was going to be different going in, but I did not know what to expect. Classes were much less structured, which I actually found to be quite difficult. Professors were not very upfront of what they expected from you in your work, so the group project I had to do became very difficult because everything was so unclear. I know now more than ever that I need clear guidelines and proper structure to be motivated in class. However, I did like how they tried to involve students in the classroom. All of my professors would ask questions and prompt discussions from us during class, which was a really nice way to learn. I also developed some good group work and communication skills because I had to do several group projects with people from all over, so it was interesting what we had to do to work together.

Also, I learned that I do genuinely love to travel and try new things. I had the best times trying new foods, meeting new people, and doing new activities. I was unsure if I would make friends or like being so far away from home, but I loved it. I was not homesick at all; I actually found the transition quite easy. When you are abroad, you have to rely on yourself and your instincts so much more. I learned that I loved this, I got to be independent and rely on myself so much more than at home. I ate breakfast and dinner almost every day by myself in the dining hall. At first, I hated it, but then I grew to really enjoy the alone time and eventually did work up the courage to make friends there and eat with them. Also, going on a weekend trip with just one or two friends really allows you to trust others more and rely on your instincts.

This experience was by far the best time I had ever had in my life and I would not change a thing. I learned so much about myself and the cultures of the world that are not my own. I feel so much different than when I left. Personally, I am surer of myself and more confident than ever before. I feel like this is not only good for my personal life, but also for future professional career. Also, now that I have been opened up to living abroad and different cultures, I do have more of an interest in global business. Perhaps my experiences in another country will also give me an edge in the global job market as well. Academically, the diversity in my education helped me learn how I best learn. I now know what I feel like I need from a professor, and I do feel like my group work skills have grown. I am now so excited to continue traveling the rest of my life and continue learning about the world.

1. For only about 3 weeks in March of 2020, I was beginning a semester at the University of Bonn in Bonn, Germany. I spent time living in my single apartment there and experiencing life in Bonn. I met many people from around the world in my program group and we were able to get in a couple of trips to various places in the Northrhine-Westphalia State. I continue to take my classes online via zoom that takes place thru mid-July.

2. I came into this trip being very open-minded and ready to absorb so much new information from everyone I was about to meet. On this short trip, I was still able to meet and interact with people my age from 5 different continents. I saw how these people viewed the world and it really enriched my view on the world and my own view of our home country. Two things that really stuck out to me was the prominence of English in other cultures around the world and the popularity of American pop culture around the world, which is now arguably becoming one big shared global sphere of pop culture.

Noticing many fundamental differences in how the Germans/Europeans structure their daily activities, how their buildings are built, where their groceries come from, and so on compared to the US. I noticed they focus more on community engagement and sustainable living, and those are fundamental ideals that govern all of these things listed above. I started to wonder if more of these ideals could be incorporated into the US industry.

3. During this short trip, my enriching experiences were mainly my conversations with others in the program. I had extensive conversations with others from the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Australia. We would talk about a whole range of topics from politics to social life in our home countries, all of us equally curious and absorbing new information. I really enjoyed how everyone in our group was equally as open-minded and curious as I was.

These conversations extended into the night when we would all go out together. Upon congregating with one another, I immediately noticed the common music artists everyone was into, and that nowadays with the internet, people are listening to the same kind of music and seeing the same things on the internet, all of which were discussed. Almost all of the music and pop culture references discussed were in English, proving that English is very prominent in other modern industrialized nations as we all experience the same pop culture. Knowing that the world is already globalizing through means such as the internet is one thing, but seeing it happen in real life like this is something else.

Another transformational aspect was simply just observing how the German/European Lifestyle is different than in the US. Specifically, I noticed every design decision of my apartment building and with many other buildings in Europe are with saving energy costs and saving space at the core of design decisions. This was demonstrated by lights shutting off in the hallway, no central HVAC, no ice machines, and rooms with only essential amounts of floor space. This caused me to reevaluate how buildings are built here in America in order to compare the 2. Groceries from the supermarkets there all have locally sourced products from smaller suppliers.

4. I have always been a curious person, always wanting to learn about my surroundings and wanting to see and understand how people view things differently. This opportunity allowed me to do that. In terms of my academic and professional goals, I am fortunate enough to still be finishing the rest of my semester online. I am still continuing to interact with students from around the world. Having native German speakers teach my classes is something I have never and probably will never get to experience again, so this experience is vital to improving my German to the point where I can help use it in my career as I had planned on doing.