Getting academic credit while studying abroad is one of the many advantages to studying in another country, and sometimes you’re even able to earn credit toward a course of study you had never anticipated. This is what happened to senior Paulina Kocoń when she studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain on the Liberal Arts and Sciences’ S&P program during the Spring of 2016.
Although not everyone is able to turn their minor into a major like Paulina, it is an opportunity some students take advantage of while abroad. “All the credits I earned while abroad were going toward my Spanish minor, but when I returned home I learned that I earned enough credits to earn a Spanish major.” Paulina had considered studying abroad in Granada, Spain, but her advisor encouraged her to study in Barcelona. “Tasha, my Spanish advisor, suggested I go to Barcelona because she thought my Spanish was more advanced and I would benefit more from the Barcelona program. I thought my Spanish was good when I went abroad, but it definitely improved while studying there.”
While abroad Paulina got to experience a lot of the Spanish culture by walking the streets of Barcelona. “The city has a lot of neighborhoods that you can get lost in. My favorite thing to do was walk home after class and take detours. I would just get lost and find new things and places.” Although she loved Barcelona, she wished she had learned more Catalan, a language unique to Barcelona, and traveled around Spain more. “I think I would have felt more immersed in the Catalan culture. I also got the chance to visit Madrid, but Spain is so diverse that I wish I had experienced the cultures of the other Spanish cities.”
"I think classes are important but the experiences you learn on top of that teach you so much."
Paulina was surprised that she had the opportunity to study abroad at all. “I know it was two years ago, but it feels like it was just yesterday. I’d wanted to study abroad since high school, but I didn’t know if I would ever go through with it until I did it. It feels like a dream.” But if she had the chance to study abroad again, she would go to Argentina. “I think a lot of the time in my Spanish classes we neglect to talk about the South American countries, so I’d like the chance to learn more about the Argentinian culture.”
Paulina learned a lot from the culture and classes while abroad, but felt that the biggest benefit was getting to better know herself. “I learned that I can do whatever I put my mind to, I just have to plan.” However, one of the most valuable things she learned while abroad was that it’s okay to be uncomfortable. “It’s worth it to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Every day you’re expanding your comfort zone, which is a great thing.”
One piece of advice that Paulina wanted to give students thinking about studying abroad was that even though it’s scary and there are a lot of unknowns, you just have to trust the process. “Trust that there are people that are going to be there to help you. In the end it’s on you and only you to take charge of everything. Make it what youwant it to be.”