Based on your experience with CYA, what are some of the benefits of spending a semester or summer abroad? How has studying abroad contributed to your personal, academic, and professional development?

I would say that based on my experience with CYA, studying abroad provides a wealth of benefits to one's cultural understanding and communicative abilities. Living for a time among people who come from different backgrounds as yourself allows you to view and understand how and why different perspectives can form which can aid in soft skills such as problem-solving. I also feel I have grown as a person in Greece, where I had to figure out my own creative solutions to dealing with a language barrier, living in an apartment, and balancing school with exploring a new country. CYA will always be on my resume as modern businesses desire employees with international perspectives and those who have experience working outside the box.

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

I would advise prospective students who are interested in studying abroad with CYA to do as much research as possible. I did thorough research beforehand on topics such as climate, credit transfer, and traveling to Greece. There are also a good variety of courses available at CYA so I would recommend looking at the syllabi of each course to determine which aligns the most with their interests/travels to places they would like to visit. Finally, I would say for them to be ready for the culture shock. Greece has vast differences from the United States and it can be easy to get overwhelmed with living in a new place with new foods, languages, and priorities.

Favorite food in Greece?

Pastitsio! A delicious Greek pasta dish similar to lasagna found in America.

Favorite quote from abroad?

"Messene is the Disney World of Archaeological Sites" - Professor Robert Pitt in the Peloponnese on our class trip