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STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM - STUDENT EXPERIENCES
Jaclyn Schaffner How did you select your Study/Intern Abroad location? I wanted to go somewhere where I could get hands on experience and at the same time live for three months in a location where I would never have been able to live otherwise. It was the combination of the course curriculum and the field location that led me to choose the School for Field Studies in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Why did you want to study or intern abroad? I wanted to study abroad so I could have the experience of immersing myself within a foreign culture and get the chance to meet new people and get to know myself better. You learn a lot about yourself when you are in a totally new country with people you have never met before. What was the highlight of the experience? The two things I think about most from my experience at SFS are the directed research project I did and the best friends I made along the way. I got the chance to actually catch sea turtles by hand, tag them, measure them and write a scientific research paper on all the data I collected; it was completely gratifying. What surprised you the most? I was surprised at the minimalist living conditions at first; they were very rustic. However, within a week I was very appreciative of it. In the U.S. we take many simple things for granted, and the entire experience opened my mind to other ways of life. How has (or how might) this experience affect your major and future career? The study abroad experience narrowed my focus and helped me determine what exactly I wanted to do and am doing now. It allows one to explore their options before committing to a full time job. In my experience, companies or organizations prefer someone who has studied abroad, one because it furthers one's knowledge in the specified area and, two, because it shows strong character. What would you tell students considering studying or interning abroad? Do it!!! No matter what your fears or concerns are, it will be one of the best and most memorable experiences of your life! |
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