As I reflect back on the lifetime worth of memories and experiences I gathered from my time studying abroad, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and content with the way my journey abroad panned out. Since I stepped into my first Spanish class in eighth grade, I knew I wanted to fully immerse myself into the language and push myself to a level of fluency. I fell in love with the diverse array of rich cultures, vibrant foods, deep-rooted history, and the beauty of the Spanish language. As years passed, and I decided to minor in Spanish here at Iowa, I started looking into opportunities to study abroad. For me, it was the last piece of the puzzle to bring my textbook education to life.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit my first year at Iowa, and what seemed to be a realistic next step started to look like a distant dream. Two years later, the opportunity arose again as the world began to open up, and I realized that it was not too late. I was faced between missing out on my last fall semester of college on campus or studying abroad for a semester, but deep down, I knew that the experiences I would gain from studying abroad would far surpass anything I could experience on campus.
With that, I temporarily packed up my life and headed to Barcelona, Spain for the fall 2022 semester. Barcelona was the ideal location for me to study abroad because I developed a strong connection to the city and its people. The culture and vibe of Barcelona and Catalonia captivated me, and I knew I had to experience it for myself. As the child of immigrant parents, I was eager to explore my identities, even if it was in a land foreign from my own, and Barcelona provided me the perfect opportunity to do just that.
"Along with navigating my identities, I went into my study abroad experience with a few goals in mind, which provided me with a sense of direction whenever I began to feel lost."
Barcelona is a cultural mosaic of diverse individuals from all corners of the globe, bringing with them unique experiences and languages. This aspect of the city surprised me the most; studying abroad in such a multicultural city allowed me to expand my horizons beyond Spain and learn about different cultures firsthand. It was a truly enriching experience to connect with people from all walks of life and witness how they navigate their identities in a foreign land. This sense of inclusivity and acceptance made me feel comfortable and supported.
Along with navigating my identities, I went into my study abroad experience with a few goals in mind, which provided me with a sense of direction whenever I began to feel lost. My first goal was to improve my fluency in Spanish, and although I was initially nervous, I pushed myself to take on every opportunity to practice the language. Whether it was at a supermarket, restaurant, on the metro, or at a coffee shop, I put aside my fear of making mistakes and realized that trying was the most important thing. As the months passed, I began to see improvements in my speaking abilities, mainly due to my growing confidence to practice and learn Spanish.
In addition to improving my language skills, I also wanted to become more independent, and being away from home for an extended period definitely helped me achieve that goal. I had to navigate a foreign country on my own, which taught me to be more self-sufficient and resourceful. Traveling, both within Spain and outside of it, also taught me to be more adaptable and a problem solver. I visited several cities and countries, including Dublin, Lisbon, Paris, and Berlin, and had the opportunity to immerse myself in different cultures and expand my worldview. Overall, setting goals before going abroad and achieving them was an incredibly rewarding experience that allowed me to grow in multiple ways.
My experience of studying abroad in Barcelona and learning about Catalonian culture was truly transformative. Through setting and achieving my goals, I became more confident in myself. Traveling across Europe gave me a greater sense of the world and taught me valuable life skills. I would highly recommend that anyone seize the opportunity to study abroad, as it can be a life-changing experience that provides personal and academic growth, and helps to shape you into a better version of yourself.
Angela Pandit (finance major and Spanish minor), a Diversity Ambassador Scholarship recipient, participated in the IES Barcelona program in fall 2022.
LEARN HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR A DIVERSITY AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP
The Diversity Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support the diversification of students who study abroad. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.
Please note that the opinions and views expressed by diversity ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.