Hey guys, my name is Katie Davis and I am an ACA student in Spain this school year. I want to share with you the positive benefits and opportunities that you would get if you travel abroad anywhere.
I decided to travel abroad because I needed a break from Andrews and wanted to experience something new that nobody in my friend group had. I felt like I was stuck and couldn’t grow as a person at Andrews. I needed a change of scenery to find my identity again. I decided to go to Spain last April because I wanted to learn Spanish. I knew several friends who had gone there and loved it.
Upon my arrival in Spain, I was immediately welcomed with hugs and kisses. The community took care of us and allowed us to participate in programs and help out with anything that we wanted to. By joining choir, orchestra, and soccer games, I was able to interact with so many different people and connect with them using my limited Spanish vocabulary. Little by little, I fell in love with studying abroad. It seemed surreal at times, especially when our program took us to different parts of Spain. I learned about the rich history and culture that still exists today.
I learned to push myself more than ever, especially when it comes to learning new things. In the beginning, my classes were hard, and I felt like giving up. But after persevering for several weeks, I saw the results and realized what I was capable of doing. Learning other languages opens up professional opportunities, but also opens up parts of the brain that have never been used before. Since I am not a native speaker, it was incredible to see the months of learning Spanish pay off. Little by little, each conversation became easier to understand and I got more confident in my speaking abilities. I remember this one time I was helping ADRA out with handing out food and I had to speak Spanish for four hours. It was very difficult to do, but with the help and patience of the people that I was working with, I had some deep conversations and we talked about various topics. After that experience, I felt like I ruled the world and I could have a conversation with anyone. When studying abroad, you will experience this feeling many times and it will encourage you to learn more and be open-minded about the native’s culture and worldview.
Before I arrived in Spain, I was scared to meet people from other Adventist universities. However, that fear soon left when I started talking to them and getting to know them. Meeting other students from different Adventist universities benefits you in so many ways. You get to learn different perspectives of Adventism, unique cultures, and vibes on the various campuses, and you bond together through learning another language. While being in Spain, I have met people who have become my best friends and who I will stay in contact with for the rest of my life. Meeting new people from different Adventist universities allows you to make connections within that university that you might need in the future. For example, a good amount of students here are planning to go to Loma Linda. Some students have been accepted, others are waiting, and some are studying for the MCAT. You can get practical advice about applications, medical school, and other important information that would be harder to access while being in your home university 24/7.
Overall, my experience studying abroad has had numerous benefits from learning another language to character growth to being able to plan a weekend trip to Malta. The memories, connections, and experiences that I have made so far here in Spain will allow me to experience life in a completely different way. I highly recommend that if you feel stuck or you just need a change of scenery, you should consider studying abroad.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.