Stephani Clifford
First and last name: Stephani Clifford
Year in school: Senior
Major: Psychology
Home city/state: Seattle, WA
1. Where did you work?
I participated in the Study Abroad Program through Loyola University Chicago's Center in Rome, Italy, for the Fall Semester of 2004
2. What was the title of your position?
Student
3. When did you work there?
September - December 2004
4. What did you do?
I studied core courses and traveled throughout Europe.
5. How did you hear about this position?
I learned of this program through information provided at an Info Table in Benson Center.
6. How does what you learned through this experience relate to your coursework and/or career goal?
It enabled me to see and experience more of the world and better understand myself. It gave me an opportunity to open my eyes and experience life in another culture.
7. How did this experience help you develop your skills and abilities, your personal qualities, your values and perceptions?
By living in another country, this experience taught me to become intensely aware of exactly how I have been living my own life and to ask hard questions of myself. I found that, by learning about the Italian way of life and those in other countries, I wanted to live with a more open mind. I want to live life not just to work, but to learn about other people and lands. I realized that getting an education not only means through formal schooling, but also by expanding the self -- as I was doing living and traveling abroad. The only way to really learn is to experience it first hand.
8. What did you learn about yourself that surprised you?
I learned that I did not know as much as I thought I did. As a junior in college, I thought I had the world figured out. Boy, did my head spin! I found there is so much I do not know or have not seen, but it was then that I wanted to start learning more.
9. How would you describe the value of this experience to other students?
Never in your life will you be this young or this free or even this vulnerable (mentally) to travel the world. After college everything changes and you won't be able to just pick up and move to another country. The value of the experiences are priceless.
10. What advice would you give to students interested in doing this?
My advice is DO IT! Don't worry about money or classes. Nothing will compare to your experience. You have the rest of your life to worry. Take this once in a lifetime opportunity. But, always go with an open mind and be ready for anything.
