The U.S. encompasses people of many different racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds. Living and studying in California, you are a part of diverse communities, but what happens when you leave to go elsewhere that might not be so? You might find a community and sense of belonging here at home and would hope to find that same sense of comfort while abroad.
According to the Institute of International Education Open Doors Project, over a quarter of a million students from the U.S. studied abroad in another country during the 2018-19 school year. Of the more than 300,000 students who studied abroad, 31% identified as racial or ethnic minorities. Most students who have studied abroad describe the experience as both rewarding and challenging. For students who identify as racial or ethnic minorities, some of the rewards and challenges may be directly related to identity.
You have unique identity markers that will be interpreted differently wherever you go and a perspective that much of the time might not have been previously considered. That being said, know that you are never alone in your global program even in the case that you feel isolated while on your program due to your racial, ethnic, or national markers. You have the support of Global Engagement, your Program Coordinators, and your program providers.
Whether you identify as Native American, Indigenous or Pacific Islander, Black, African, African-American or Afro-Caribbean, Middle Eastern, South-East Asian or Asian, Latinx or Caribbean, or encompass many of these different identity markers, know that having a global experience is an option for you and that your identity markers might offer you a unique experience while abroad.
To get started, all students should make an academic plan that matches their academic goals. Find out what classes are required to complete your degree when they have to be taken, how long it will take to execute this plan, and where you can fit study abroad or away into all of this. On a study abroad or away program, you can receive major, minor, core, or elective credit - it really is up to you what you want to get out of the program and do with your time away.
Next, start exploring the different Global Opportunities at Santa Clara.
Be sure that you choose a program that matches your academic, personal, and professional goals.
- Does the program offer coursework in your major/minor? Or coursework that will count toward CORE credit?
- Does it offer internship or research opportunities if that’s what you’re looking for?
- What about an opportunity to practice your language skills?
You should choose a program not only because it’s in a place you desire to go to, but one that will serve you academically, personally, and professionally - this way you are sure to get a well-rounded experience!
The most important factor to consider when choosing a global program is how it will serve your personal, professional, and academic goals. Once you have browsed program options and have picked some countries or programs you are interested in, you should think about what role your identities might play in your abroad experience.
For example, if you are an African-American/Black/or Caribbean (ABC) student studying in a country in Africa, you may be part of the racial majority for the first time. However, if you are an ABC student studying in Argentina, you may find yourself, even more, part of the racial or ethnic minority than here in the U.S. (as Argentina has very few people of color). No matter your identity, Global Engagement is always here to discuss what it may be like to be YOU abroad. Don’t feel uncomfortable with coming to discuss these important concerns with your program coordinator, as they are trained in understanding your needs and are dedicated to offering you the support that you seek.
If you do choose to meet with your program coordinator, it could be helpful to have your concerns and questions prepared beforehand. Here is a list with just a couple of points you might want to discuss, for example:
- How many students of color typically study on the programs I am considering?
- How will I be perceived in my host community because of my ethnic, racial, or national markers?
- Will I experience discrimination in the country I study in? Who can I talk to about it if I do?
- I will be studying abroad in search of heritage, culture, or diaspora community. Can I contact other students who may have done this before?
- Are there additional funding sources or scholarships that I can look into?
- How can I talk to my loved ones about studying abroad?
You should do some research about the experiences of people of your shared ethnic, racial, or national markers living, studying, or traveling in your desired abroad destination, in order to get an idea about their experiences based on identity. You may also be able to connect with a returnee to get an insight into the student experience in a particular country or under a particular global program.
Talking to your loved ones about study abroad or away can be a subject that may require some timing and planning. Coming to study at Santa Clara University might be the first time that you have found yourself away from your loved ones and they may be concerned about you going even farther away from them by studying in another city, state, or country.
If you find yourself a little bit nervous about talking to them, know that you have all the resources you need, including academic and financial planning information, to support your argument about why you want to study abroad or away and how you’re going to do it. We even have a Family Resources section of our website that you can share!
You can let them know that it is going to complement your studies at SCU and open up new academic, personal, and professional opportunities for you. And, you can explain that financial aid goes with students who receive it.
If they are concerned about the location that you are going to, be sure to do your research and let them know some reassuring facts about the place. You should also let them know that you will have on-site support by staff and that you will be with other students as well. These are just some of the many points you can use to enhance your conversation with your loved ones about study abroad or away.
Sometimes, while abroad you might find yourself as the only person of your racial, ethnic, or national marker. Other times, you could find yourself surrounded by people who share similar or the same racial, ethnic, or national markers. And, in some cases, you might find yourself being a minority within the group of other students in your program, but looking like a part of the majority in the university setting. What is important to know is that you should not feel alone. You have support from Global Engagement alongside the advisors, coordinators, and assistants of your respective program providers.
If at any time you want to address your concerns about your racial, ethnic, or national identities while abroad, you should feel free to contact any and all advisors, firstly initiating this conversation with on-sight staff.
When you travel abroad from California, you may be perceived through a new cultural lens that may categorize and interpret your race, ethnicity, and other identity attributes quite differently than what you are used to back home. People will be intrigued and might challenge the fact that you come from the U.S., but do not fit the imagined identity of what someone coming from the U.S. might look like. Questions like the infamous “But where are you really from?” might come up, but it is important to consider that not everyone around the world has been exposed to United States history or the histories of your places of origin enough to understand your realities as an ethnic or racial minority in the U.S. And, while it is not your responsibility to educate these people about your existence, do know that you will be looked at as a source of representation for your place of origin, the place where you permanently reside, or the place you grew up in. This could mean both the U.S. and whatever other regions in the world people might associate you with.
All you can do is be the best version of yourself and live your best life.
We understand how important it is for current students to hear from previous alumni who participated in global experiences while attending SCU. We've built the "Student Experiences" section of our website to connect you with former students through a variety of ways, including our podcast: Abroaden Your Horizons, student spotlights, and even the Returnee Database. Happy Connecting!
Explore Student StoriesGlobal Engagement welcomes all students to apply to our global learning programs. Santa Clara offers international, virtual, and domestic program opportunities.
Your story is the most powerful insight available and can inform Global Engagement about how we can better support students of diverse ethnic, racial, and national markers going away in the future. As a Global Engagement Alumni, there are a variety of options to choose from if you want to share your experiences with others. We've organized a few of these opportunities at SCU on our website here, based on the level of engagement you have time for.