- Study Abroad Student
What was your international education experience like?
When I was an undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, I studied abroad during my junior year at Lund University in Lund, Sweden. As a first-generation, low-income, queer student, studying abroad and having an international experience was one of the main goals I set for myself when going to university. As many people say when they study abroad, it was a life-changing experience. I was not only able to challenge myself academically but personally as well. I became much more independent, more comfortable with adversaries, more empathetic, and much more flexible when challenges arise.
What message do you have to share with students and community members about the importance of international education?
International experiences push individuals beyond their comfort zone and challenge themselves. When entering into an international experience, you are accepting and acknowledging the challenges, the stress, and the anxiety which come with a very life-changing process. My advice to folks is to lean into the challenges, stress, and anxiety when they arise and not to panic as it all leads to greater personal growth. If there were no challenges and if there was no discomfort, there would be no growth or self-actualization. It's all worth it in the end!