Study abroad has become actively sought out by students and readily advertised by colleges. Colleges see their opportunities to study abroad as an asset, and students want the option, even if they do not take it.
The ability to study abroad is sometimes seen as something only rich kids do to take a 3 or 4 month vacation and legally drink, usually in Europe. I cannot say that I do not know a few people who went to Rome for that exact reason, but these students are usually in the minority. Most of the students I studied abroad with went to Rome for the same reasons (or at least similar reasons) that I did.
Being able to study abroad while also working towards a major in the health sciences is quite uncommon. Many of the schools I looked at when researching colleges in high school did not offer a semester in which health science students could sacrifice time away from their rigorous programs to study off-campus. Fortunately, I found Duquesne University. In addition to condensing a typical 6 year program in to 5 years, Duquesne built the speech-language pathology to incorporate one semester that was flexible enough to allow students the opportunity to puruse an independent study, a minor, or (in my case) study abroad.
When I came to Duquesne, I knew that I would do everything I could to study abroad. I had travelled before attending college but primarily within the United States. I sought new experiences in a new place. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and see how another part of the world lives. I desired an experience that would be exciting and challenging. Little did I know!
In my freshman year, I was fortunate enough to go to London and Stratford-upon-Avon on a spring break way that included a course on Shakespeare. My experience studying theatre and then attending the plays I read about in England was incredible, and I knew I wanted more than 10 days abroad. I saved money from summer jobs for years, and in sophomore year, I applied to attend Duquesne in Rome in the spring. Of course, I was accepted and began researching everything I could about Italy and Europe. I talked with Teresa about our dream locations and suddenly I was in my dorm in Rome planning our trips. I have missed out on a lot of our plans, but I experienced so much in the one month I studied abroad.
I cooked an Italian meal, I tried new foods, I went to plenty of new locations, I navigated city transportation in a foreign country, I learned enough Italian to sort of get by at restaurants, and I made an incredible group of friends. I did a lot, I saw a lot, and I learned a lot about myself, Italy, and how to learn in new ways. And I studied!
Study abroad offers students the unique experience to live and learn in a whole new place. Learning in a new country extends far beyond the classroom and affords students the opportunity to make exciting memories by travelling places they maybe never could have gotten to while still attending university.
Yes, I can still take a vacation to Europe (and I likely will), but it is unlikely that I will live abroad again with a whole class of students my own age.
On Thursday, in honor of what would have been the day that I returned from Italy, I cooked a meal for my family. I put together a caprese salad appetizer, pasta with red sauce as the main meal, and pizzelle cannoli for dessert. Even though I was not on a plane back from a 3 month study abroad experience, I was grateful to be healthy and surrounded by people who love me. I look forward to sharing my experience studying abroad, and I look forward to one day going back!
Duquesne Study Abroad Rome 2020 