Boardman, Hanley

Hanley Boardman

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I choose study abroad because both of my parents studied abroad in college and I grew up always hearing them talk about the amazing memories they made while abroad. I choose my program because I wanted one that fulfilled requirements for my Spanish for the medical professions minor during a summer term. There were two programs but I loved the feel of the UNC in Sevilla program, which is ultimately what I ended up choosing!

What did you learn about yourself?
Through this experience I learned that I need to push myself outside my comfort zones. I had the opportunity to experience so many new foods, music, architecture, etc. that I wouldn’t in the US but sometimes that required me trying something new or experiencing something that I didn’t know a ton about. If I didn’t step outside my comfort zone while abroad I would have missed out on so aspects of the culture!

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
One of my favorite memories from my program was the last night. We all got to hang out and celebrate before heading to our goodbye dinner hosted by our program. It was crazy to think that just six weeks before we were all strangers and by then end it felt like a second home. We all chatted and reflected on our time in Spain and all the memories we made. At the end some of our professors and program staff gave little speeches. It was just such a bittersweet but memorable moment that I’ll always cherish!

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
Just go for it! This sounds so cheesy but you only have so many opportunities to be in college and study abroad. Pick a program that is right for you and know that both your program and the study abroad office at UNC offer so many resources to help you if any issues arise. A new country (and possibly a different language) can be super nerve wrecking but you’ll meet so many new people who are all in the same boat as you!

Memories