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Illinois Abroad Student Stories Blog
Student Spotlight

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  • Ruhi Choudhury

    Student Spotlight: Ruhi Choudhury talks time in London; gives advice for future Illinois Abroad students

    Sep 27, 2024 2:15 pm

    Ruhi Choudhury committed every minute, hour, and day she spent in London to living outside her comfort zone. 

    “I'm only here for five months, so I'd like to see almost everything I can,” Choudhury said during an April 7 interview inside Ground Café on the Queen Mary University of London campus. 

    Although Choudhury was in London for one semester, she found success forging her own story on a campus of more than ten thousand students located in a city of more than nine million. 

    In the end, she managed to make every minute, hour, and day a unique and memorable experience that she will remember for a lifetime. 

  • Just Do the Thing: Learning in and Out of the Classroom

    Oct 11, 2019 2:30 pm

    “I stared back in awe at the undeniable beauty the Cathédrale Notre-Dame epitomized. I don’t know what it was about that day, April 14th to be exact, that compelled me to fixate on the monument. But I’m really glad that I did because the next day it was on fire. That seemingly normal taxi ride as we concluded our spring break in Paris is one I will never forget. Being close to such a sad event was a wake up call reminding me that every opportunity in life should be taken before it’s gone. Whether it’s holding onto one last look or embracing any experience that comes my way, it’s a reminder that life is oh-so-fragile. It’s a reminder to just do the thing. Because of this re-instilled urgency to live life to its fullest, I hiked Monte Brè in Switzerland, and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.” -- Maddie Ehret, senior in journalism

  • Interning in Ecuador

    Feb 11, 2019 11:00 am

    Having previously traveled to South America, Clarita Sullivan, a Junior majoring in Political Science, knew she had to return back to the continent as her study abroad destination.

  • Living in The Lion City

    Nov 13, 2018 1:30 pm

    When asked if there was one place you would visit again, Jiayi Xu, a senior studying Mathematics and Statistics, replied without hesitation that she would visit her host university – The National University of Singapore – to catch up with old friends and to see the campus again.

  • Australia: Studying Abroad Oceans Away

    Apr 6, 2018 12:45 pm

    Studying abroad with people you are familiar with can make experiencing another country less intimidating. But Tom Hartney, a senior majoring in English and minoring in Business, felt that studying abroad in a country that had no familiar faces would be more beneficial to his experience.

  • A Year in Hong Kong

    Mar 5, 2018 3:00 pm

    Not only does Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange offer programs during the semester, but we also offer students the opportunity to spend an academic year abroad on select programs. Anita Kwan, a senior studying East Asian Languages and Cultures as well as Economics, took this opportunity to study at the University of Hong Kong for the 2016-2017 academic term.

  • Host Families: The Best Housing in Bilbao

    Feb 16, 2018 2:45 pm

    Studying abroad is an experience that allows you to learn more about yourself as well as the different cultures you’ll interact with. But living with a host family during your time abroad, like Roberto Estrada Lobo did while studying at the Universidad de Deusto - Bilbao, allows you to be immersed in a culture each and every day.   

  • A Spring Spent at VU Amsterdam

    Jan 26, 2018 1:30 pm

    Many students would view an extra semester of school as disappointing, but Alejandro saw it as an opportunity to study abroad.

  • The U.S. From an Italian's Perspective

    Jan 16, 2018 2:45 pm

    There is so much to learn from Illini that have studied abroad, but there is just as much to learn from students that are currently studying abroad at U of I. 

  • Cape Town in Four Weeks or Less

    Nov 17, 2017 1:45 pm

    Many students believe they won't have time to study abroad during their college career but there are plenty of programs available during the Summer term as well as during Winter and Spring breaks. Natalie Szot participated in ACES Faculty-Led Program: Service Learning, Child, Family, Health and Agriculture in South Africa during the Summer 2017 term.

  • Illinois Corn to Italian Grapes: A Summer in Rome

    Nov 10, 2017 12:00 pm

    Studying abroad in a foreign country is an incredible experience, but having an internship in that country is an exclusive opportunity available to Illinois students. Christy Allen, a junior in Agricultural Communications, took advantage of this opportunity by studying abroad in Rome while also participating in an internship during Summer 2017.

  • Q&A with Violetta Montañez

    Nov 8, 2017 10:30 am

    From storied.illinois.edu

    Violetta found her passion on a study abroad trip to Australia. Now she plans to take that inspiration back to her beloved Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, connecting residents with the healthcare services they need.

  • 365 Days of Brazil

    Oct 25, 2017 11:30 am

    Everyone has different ideas about where they want to study abroad and what culture they want to experience. Mary Gan, a senior majoring in Agricultural Consumer Economics with a minor in Portuguese, spent a year in the city of Piracicaba, Brazil at the University of São Paulo-ESALQ.

  • To Jordan (then Austria) and Back

    Sep 29, 2017 10:15 am

    Studying abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your college career. But studying abroad twice - that can be the opportunity of a lifetime. Read about Ester Fang's study abroad expereince in Amman, Jordan as well as Vienna, Austria. 

  • Gilman Scholarship: Victoria Pai at Yonsei U.

    Aug 10, 2017 10:30 am

    Victoria was awarded the Gilman Scholarship—a grant for U.S. citizen undergraduate students to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing internships abroad—for her study abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea during the Academic Year of 2014-2015.

     

  • There and Back Again: Sarah at Korea U.

    Aug 9, 2017 3:45 pm

    Originally from Minooka Illinois, Sarah chose to attend Illinois due to the Korean Language courses available and the strong support from the College of Education to study abroad. Sarah studied at Korea University in Seoul on two separate occasions, citing her first experience and a desire to take more courses as the motivation to go abroad again.

  • There and Back Again: Jacklyn Montiel in Granada

    Aug 9, 2017 3:30 pm

    Sometimes studing in a country once just isn't enough. Read about Jacklyn's study abroad experience in Granada, Spain and how she intends to study there again. 

  • Internships Abroad: Emma in New Zealand

    Aug 9, 2017 3:15 pm

    One of the best ways to learn is through hands on experiences. Learn about Emma Woods’ study abroad experience in New Zealand and how she got the chance to learn through exploration and hands on professional experience.