I’m Rose Grau, a fourth-year marketing and journalism student at the University of Iowa. I spent this past spring semester studying in Cork, Ireland, and I can confidently say my thinking patterns and views on school and the world have been completely rerouted. As I was being dropped off at the airport, I quickly realized I was unsure of everything. I had never lived outside of Iowa, never traveled alone, and I knew no one. However, it was in the discomfort of trying something new that I saw the most growth in myself.  

I became a true problem solver and very good at asking questions… maybe too many questions sometimes. I developed the mindset that everything is figure-out-able, and by keeping an open mind, I was consistently led to new places and experiences. As I started to integrate into a new culture, my curiosity for the world blossomed. I often thought about how beautiful it was that I got the privilege to learn from people who live differently than me. I truly found a passion for learning in ALL aspects of my life. 

“It really scares me to think of what my life would look like had I decided not to study abroad because this is, single-handedly, the most amazing thing that’s happened to me.”

In the courses I took, I was intrigued by the new perspectives and topics, and I saw my studies in a new light. This motivated me to soak in as much as I possibly could. Throughout my academic years, I have always been a good student who attained good grades, but I wasn’t retaining the information. Now, I try to be fully present in my lectures, and I even raise my hand in class, which sometimes still shocks me. It’s in that mindset shift that I’ve noticed a huge, positive change in the quality of my education.

Studying abroad gave me a glimpse of the life I want to live, and I’m going to put in as much effort as it takes to have that life. I need to be setting myself up for success now because time is fleeting, and there’s no better moment than the present to work toward my goals. I have more confidence in myself and my abilities than I ever have, and I’m going to keep putting my best foot forward as I navigate these defining years of my life.

I’ll close with a quote from the journal I kept during my travels, which encompasses my passion for speaking today. I wrote, “It really scares me to think of what my life would look like had I decided not to study abroad because this is, single-handedly, the most amazing thing that’s happened to me.”  

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.