Studying abroad has opened my mind to the possibility of pursuing my future career endeavors internationally and on a more global scale. The ability to learn about Greece and Europe gave me so much insight on the challenges many face in the world, along with the beautiful things that bring people together despite them! I never imagined having so many chances to integrate myself within Greek culture, making local friends, traveling across Europe, and expanding my knowledge on the inner workings of society (politically, economically, socially, etc.) I definitely will take this new insight into my academics in the United States and beyond! I have grown skills in comparative analysis on a variety of topics in respect to Europe vs the USA or even Europe vs the world. There are so many things I had never considered or thought of before, and studying abroad has definitely made me more eager to explore out of my comfort zone in all areas.

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

Studying abroad with the CYA program was something I had never thought possible. As a first-generation and low-income student, I was completely unprepared for the application process and the prospect of living abroad for what seemed like such a long period of time. While in Greece, I initially felt a lot of insecurity and doubts about my identity as a student, especially considering the fact that I was one of the few students of color during my program. Although it took some warming up to, I realized that my identity was celebrated by the program and only made me more open to new experiences in Greece. I would love to be able to provide underrepresented students with the confidence to pursue study abroad, especially with CYA. I will advise them on the various resources available to them while in Greece, such as support groups and mental health treatment. I will also make sure to emphasize the various affinity group-related events, such as the POC and LGBTQ+ dinners. I believe if I were aware that CYA actively prioritized accommodating underrepresented students, I would not have felt so anxious and insecure in studying with their program. I met my closest friends through these groups, making my experience so much more comfortable and easy to assimilate too. In general, I want to focus on the aspects of CYA that allowed my various identities to be accepted in a place I thought would be so difficult too. Encouraging students to participate in these events and groups would be my number one priority as strengthening underrepresented students who may be unaware of these processes is my passion. "Everyone is capable of studying abroad, especially you!"

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, First-generation student, First-time international traveler, LGBTQIA+ student, Mental health, Post-graduate networking, Student of color

Favorite food in Greece?

Keftedes with Tirokafteri (Greek meatballs with spicy feta)

Favorite class you took at CYA?

Borders, Boundaries, and Human Mobility

What extracurricular activities were you involved with in Greece?

Student affairs events, workshops, exploring the city, meeting locals