Pilar Covington
About My Study Abroad Program
Major/Minor: Double major in Hispanic Studies and Philosophy
Program: Connecting Worlds Abroad (COWA)
Location: Seville, Spain
Email: pilarcov@ad.unc.edu
Term: Fall 2023
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I chose to study abroad because I wanted to improve my Spanish-speaking skills and I thought that being fully immersed in the language for several months was a great way to do this. I selected my program after Carlos Valencia (the head of COWA) came to my Spanish class and talked about the location.
What did you learn about yourself?
Sometimes I feel like I have imposter syndrome in regard to my Spanish-speaking abilities but this trip gave me a lot of confidence in my speaking, writing, and presenting skills. I feel like I can do anything Spanish related in the US because I was able to do it for 3+ months in Spain.
What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
For Thanksgiving, the leaders of COWA planned an American style dinner at a local restaurant. This was definitely my favorite memory because it was so thoughtful of them to accommodate us and make us feel at home. Everyone from the program came, including the teachers, and I felt very grateful for the whole experience.
What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
My biggest advice is to not be hard on yourself if you're having trouble integrating into the culture abroad. A lot of the time abroad, I felt lonely and like I wasn't making the most out of my experience. It's hard to understand how important what you're doing is when you're in the moment, but what you gained from the experience may just be something that will be continuously revealed after you return home.
How do you identify?
Student of color, LGBTQ+, Covenant Scholars
Could you share any experiences where your identity played a role in your time abroad?
Being queer didn't really play a role in my time abroad and while I was aware of racial differences, I only experienced one microaggression. In my experience, the general population of Spain is not racist.
Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?
Study abroad with a friend that shares your identities!
Memories
