Not a Decision to Study Abroad, a Dream

Are you thinking about studying abroad?

On August 11, 2020, my 13-year-old self wrote a letter addressed five years in the future. In this letter, I outlined my three main goals: purchase a new screen protector to stop cracking my phone, find a job to buy an iPad for school, and study abroad “because I would experience new cultures and learn things differently than I would here” (quoted directly from said letter).

        Six years later and I’ve managed to end the streak of cracking my phone screen, received an iPad in 2021 that I still use to this day, and took a step towards the grander goal of studying abroad.

        My decision to study abroad was never really a decision to make—it was a dream to fulfill. At the age of 15, I’d fall down rabbit holes of different programs, events, and opportunities to explore different cultures and languages. The catch was always that I struggled to find any within my budget. So, I veered away from my initial goal and I searched for cultural exchange programs as well. Through a Reddit thread in 2023, I found an 8-week virtual exchange program called “Culturous”. Once a week, I would meet with students my age from Algeria, Brazil, Pakistan, Bolivia, and Egypt to discuss the communication styles, music, food, and behavioral norms of our cultures/countries. The idea of having conversations liked that only fueled my desire to study abroad, and I was determined to close in towards my goal.

        In the fall of the same year, I applied to the United States Youth Ambassador (USYA) Program—a three-week fully-funded cultural exchange for high school students, sponsored by the Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Each year, around 100 students were selected to participate in the program across 6 different locations. Students engaged in activities focused on civic engagement, community service, and cross-cultural understanding. In February 2024, seeing my acceptance letter brought tears to my eyes, it felt like the opportunity of my dreams.

        Although it was less than 3 weeks long, it felt like a step closer to my dream. It solidified my decision to major in international relations when I arrived at college. The program emphasized the power of language, which heavily influenced my choice to study in a Spanish-speaking country, specifically Chile. Reflecting on this experience and what it taught me about  interconnectedness and cultural competence even earned me a merit scholarship (and a spot in the honors college) at Boston University.

        Once I arrived at BU, the study abroad office led me to choose IES Abroad and their Santiago program focused on Politics, Social Justice, and Language. The university used to have a campus in Santiago, Chile, before COVID shut it down. Fortunately, however, when schools opened up again, BU partnered with IES Abroad to continue programming in Santiago. When I was searching for study abroad programs last December, coming across IES Abroad Santiago felt like fate.

        Studying abroad somewhere where I could be surrounded by Spanish was a must, but I also wanted to take courses on Latin America specifically since it is my regional track within my international relations major. IES Abroad Santiago mixes these perfectly, with all of my classes in Spanish and exciting courses about human rights in Latin America and the social and political role of art within Chile. 

Even more exciting—I’ll get to reconnect with students I met in the USYA program two years ago. On my last visit, I barely got to explore Santiago since I was situated in the southern city of San Fernando for the majority of my time in Chile, a suburban town two hours south of the city. This time, I’ll have five months to immerse myself in the capital, Santiago, and the city’s culture. I’ll get to see everything from the Andes mountains to the Atacama desert, and I already cannot imagine choosing anywhere else besides IES Abroad Santiago.

Choosing means not only pursuing my dream, but also falling into it. I’m excited to let go a bit, allowing myself to experience culture shock, unexpected situations, and learn to navigate life on my own, away from everything familiar. Exploring the unknown will be exploring the life that my 13-year old self dreamed of. In what ways will my experience surprise me? How will I learn to adjust to life in Santiago? I’m looking forward to all the ways I’ll grow. :)

Whether you’ve always known you wanted to study abroad or are still on the fence about choosing it, take the time to explore your options and figure out what speaks to you. But don’t let fear stop you from an opportunity to grow.