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- Andrea •
- Study Abroad in Mexico •
- Global Studies Major
“When
you put yourself in a situation that’s unfamiliar, I
think that’s the ultimate test. For those in the leadership
minor, I definitely think study abroad is beneficial.”
—Andrea |
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Andrea is a global studies major and leadership minor, who spent six weeks of her summer fulfilling language requirements in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She found that her experience related to both her major and her minor, and is now planning to study in Ecuador for a semester.
Study abroad has had a profound impact on Andrea’s life. After her first study abroad experience in Costa Rica, she decided to change her major to global studies. She thinks that study abroad is an important part of what it is to be a Global Studies major, and wanted to make sure it continued to be a part of what she was studying. As a result, she chose to travel to Cuernavaca to immerse herself in the language. She found that participating in this type of language program allowed her to make Spanish a useful part of her life and studies.
Andrea also found that her time in Mexico related to what she has studied in her Leadership minor. She said that study abroad is a process of reflection, which is something that leaders must learn to do when they are faced with difficulties. "When you put yourself in a situation that’s unfamiliar, I think that’s the ultimate test. For those in the leadership minor, I definitely think study abroad is beneficial."
Andrea found that the courses in Cuernavaca were designed to give students individual attention and support, which helped her to learn the language. She also used her free time to converse with a Mexican “intercambio”—a student who was learning English. They used both languages to talk about their lives, and visited local sites together. For Andrea, this was a way to develop communication skills while getting to know someone from another culture, and share opinions and points of view. Study abroad has opened the door for Andrea to continue to travel and learn about other cultures. Next, she plans on participating in the MSID program in Ecuador, where she will have an internship in education. She feels that going abroad for a semester will be a perfect capstone for her studies.
Last modified on May 13, 2008 |