There are so many amazing benefits of spending a semester abroad! And these benefits have all contributed greatly to my personal, academic, and professional growth! One of the biggest benefits for me was being able to step outside of my comfort zone and be greeted with a warm welcome by CYA. I was really nervous about coming abroad because I am very much a homebody and haven't really been that far from my family ever. Being able to spend a semester abroad has allowed me to gain so much confidence in myself and my ability to travel alone. It also has allowed me to grow greatly as an individual. I feel that I have grown to be much more independent and have learned more about myself. I know that I really benefitted from coming to CYA for abroad because of how much I was able to grow and how confident and independent I became. And of course, the academics are a huge benefit as well! I feel that I have really learned so much in my classes, and I personally feel that I have retained more than I do in my classes at my home university. The classes at CYA are quite specific which is actually really great because it allows us to go really in-depth on concepts and topics, allowing us to really gain a deeper understanding. My courses have also been really interesting and I feel that I am going back to my home university with a plethora of new knowledge that will apply really well to my major and minor. Additionally, another amazing benefit has been all of the field studies that we are taken on. I could talk about the field studies forever because I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to study abroad with a program that provides us with so many opportunities to learn and explore.

The field studies allowed me to see parts of Greece that I probably would have never seen, and they taught me more than I could have imagined. It was also a great way to connect with my fellow CYAers and professors and staff. That leads me to another benefit! The awesome people here at CYA! Every person I have met has been so kind and it has been so nice getting to meet so many new people from various backgrounds and different schools! It also has been really wonderful getting to know some of the staff at CYA! I always felt that CYA was there for me and I really think the program is set up so that everyone feels at home. Another benefit I will mention is the ability to find an internship through CYA for the semester. I have been working at the Network for Children's Rights and this too has been such a wonderful experience. I have learned so much and I know that the work I completed, the knowledge I gained, and the individuals I connected with will be an amazing asset for me as I work to find an internship and jobs in the future. I also met such amazing individuals from Greece while working at my internship and learned so much about the local culture from them! And this leads me to my final benefit that I will talk about for now (even though I could go on forever)! Being able to be immersed in the Greek culture has been really great. It is so awesome being able to learn about a different culture both in the classroom and out, and to really get to know where I am living.

What advice do you have for prospective students who are interested in or planning to study abroad with CYA?

I would advise prospective students to come to Greece and study with CYA!! I personally feel it is a no brainer, especially because of all of the benefits I listed above! But I would also advise students to come to CYA with an open mind, ready to meet new friends and learn a ton of new information. Having an open mind to everything while abroad is key in my opinion because it will allow for so many new opportunities and will also allow students to really immerse themselves and take in everything around them. I feel it also allows students to make new friends and try new things!

please select any of the following that apply to you, and that you would be willing to share about your CYA experience with other students:

Finances, Mental health

Favorite food in Greece?

Olives!

Favorite class you took at CYA?

Europe Today: Winter is Coming or Borders, Boundaries, Human Mobility

Favorite quote from abroad?

What extracurricular activities were you involved with in Greece?

I interned at the Network for Children's Rights while in Greece, and did lots of walking for exercise and to explore Athens!