Studying abroad is such a fantastic opportunity to be able to learn and see the world as a young adult. If a person had the opportunity to study abroad, I would recommend taking advantage of the opportunity. I was able to see another part of the world that I might not have been able to see years down the line. I was able to experience someone else’s cultures. If someone were to ask me if they should do it, then I would tell them yes because the experience is something everyone should be able to experience and to be able to say you traveled another part of the world while getting an education is something most people have not done.
I always wanted to study abroad, so I am glad I was able to attend for my last semester. Due to covid, part of my college years did not have the option to study abroad so to be able to attend study abroad and graduate college on time was a blessing. My major is Criminal Justice, and my minor is Psychology, I wanted to learn more on psychology because it is a part of my degree but since it is a minor, I only needed a certain number of credits. I never thought I would be able to visit England, Germany, and Austria as a part of my college experience. Studying abroad gave me a chance to be able to step out of my comfort zone. I met new friends, learned more about well-known figures shaped around psychology, and viewed new cities. There are so many diverse cultures that you learn about, and it is interesting to see how different and similar they are to the United States (U.S.). It is also interesting to see that England, Germany, and Austria are a part of one continent, but their difference is visible from language to clothing.
England, Germany, and Austria were all beautiful countries in their own way, but England was my favorite. I personally loved England in general because it felt more like the U.S. and seemed diverse. I loved how easy transportation was due to the underground. I enjoyed going to the Freud Museum because it was interesting to see where he had to move to when the war was occurring. It was also interesting to see the Tower of London because I always thought it was just a tower, but it is like a small village where people used to live and there are some people that still stay there. I was nervous about Germany because of the language barrier. I did not enjoy Munich much, but I liked the fact that we visited Dachau. Although Dachau concentration camp was a tough day, it was interesting to be physically there and learn about what happen while standing on those grounds. Being able to be there puts you in a different mindset and helps visually put into perspective on what unfortunately occurred. Würzburg and Nuremberg were beautiful cities in Germany. Our last location was Austria and we visited Freud house before he left for London. I really liked the fact that we were able to compare the two homes and I liked that we were able to see the set-up of both houses. Overall, the trip was a success. It was amazing to be in the cities where Charles Darwin and Sigman Freud created their best work, and it was great to be where research about Psychology was conducted.
Tianna Johnson (BS Criminal Justice) spent Summer 2022 in England, Germany, and Austria as part of a faculty-led trip linked with a UTC course. Tianna had the following to say about study abroad, “Studying abroad gives you a chance to learn more on the subject of your focus and the opportunity to travel to different countries! It makes you step out of your comfort zone, and it gives you a chance to try other cultures! You make memories, make new friends, and meet new people from the countries visited, leaving you with a life-changing experience!”
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