Accounting, Class of 2019
Study Abroad/Immersions
That's My Real Life
As a first-generation college student, attending a four-year university was a big step for me. So as a senior in high school I never could have imagined I would be living and studying in Barcelona, Spain, as part of my college education! Thanks to the support of generous philanthropists like you, studying abroad became a reality for me.
I had never been out of the country before studying abroad in Barcelona. I was nervous to step out of my comfort zone and didn’t really know what to expect when leaving home for four months. But I wanted to learn through observing another culture, and hoped to return home with the ability to speak more fluent Spanish and to become more independent. I achieved those goals and gained so much more.
By exploring cities and countries that I had never visited before, I was really able to step outside my comfort zone. Living with my host family in Barcelona, I was able to practice my Spanish daily and, as time progressed, my confidence grew.
I took courses at local universities with both local and international students and experienced Barcelona’s culture in a very hands-on way. Many instructors reinforced the in-class lessons with excursions to the places we were studying. This helped us learn even more about the culture of the community in which we were living. For example, I learned about Spanish artists and then visited museums where their art was showcased.
It was eye-opening to see that even in Barcelona my business class teachers used Silicon Valley companies as examples. It was so exciting to know that they were referencing my real life back at home. I felt lucky to go to Santa Clara, here in Silicon Valley, and get to learn from, network with, and even work at the Silicon Valley companies my professors were referencing. It made me realize that we are truly living in a global economy.
Thank you for helping sustain programs like Study Abroad with your gift through the Santa Clara Fund. Your support encourages Santa Clara students to engage in issues both in our immediate community and throughout the world.
Read about other Santa Clara students who were beneficiaries of your gift to the Santa Clara Fund.