Gump, Sarabeth

Sarabeth Gump

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
Coming into UNC I knew I wanted to study abroad at some point, and hoped to go multiple times. In fact, one of the reasons I chose Carolina was because of its robust offering of programs abroad, including unique opportunities for freshmen. Freshman have four options: an engineering program in Ireland as well as separate programs in Scotland, South Korea, and Spain. I took Spanish in high school and knew I wanted to continue with it when I came to college. However, I intentionally searched for a program outside of the Spanish-speaking offerings this past year because I felt confident I’d like to do an immersive language program later in my time at UNC as a capstone to my 10+ years of Spanish classes. I’d recommend the Spring Forward program in Scotland to anyone who is a nature-lover or has an appreciation for history time who wishes to learn about parts of the world beyond the material we discuss in class.

What did you learn about yourself?
Studying in Scotland changed my life a little bit. In January, I boarded a plane with two suitcases and a guitar, and four months later returned with strong friendships, engaged curiosity, and a much stronger sense of self than I had in the winter. Upon arriving at a large public university after attending the same school for ten years, I was excited and also overwhelmed by the plethora of majors and interest-related offerings in my first semester at Carolina. Studying in Scotland allowed me to take a step back and reflect upon how I could set myself up to be intentional with my involvement within future semesters on campus in addition to reinforcing what a great big world it is out there. My time in Stirling as well as the opportunity for outside travel made me realize that there are so many awesome pathways you can take in life, so it’s important to not limit yourself by thinking too small. Since returning to the States, I feel much more secure in my ability to direct time toward spaces that engage a sense of wonder–– I even changed my major to Global Studies!

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
One of my favorite memories from Spring Forward was our excursion to Loch Katrine & the Trossachs National Park. Every couple of weeks our host program, API Scotland, would offer optional “excursions,” or fun outings and cultural experiences. As a freshman studying abroad, these excursions were also a great opportunity to bond with other UNC students in the program as we explored the country together beyond Stirling. I had a blast on our trip to this stunning park where we rented bikes and enjoyed a picnic on the shores of Loch (Scottish Gaelic for “lake”) Katrine. 

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
Going abroad is like an added layer of putting yourself out there. Uncertainty is scary and hard and sometimes overwhelming, but in a way we each have to face uncertainty pretty much every day. For this reason, learning to stay calm and make the most out of an uncertain situation is an important skill to develop in college. Admittedly, it’s still hard sometimes, however, the experience in choosing to learn about a different culture and accepting and immersing ourselves in a new community can make a world of difference in our ability to connect with others, not just abroad, but also here at Carolina. Keep putting yourself out there, it’s one of the best avenues to grow.

Memories