Harris, Amaya

Amaya Harris

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
Honestly, the study abroad program chose me. I never imagined that I’d be able to study abroad but when I opened my acceptance letter, it said I had been accept to study at the Universidad de Granada. My parents were ecstatic but I was shocked and nervous, but as I learned more about Spain and study abroad opportunities, I couldn't wait until the start of my program. 

What did you learn about yourself?
I learned just how capable I am. When you study abroad at 18 fresh out of highschool, you’re forced to mature in ways unimaginable. Before my study abroad, I was afraid of something going wrong and not having a guardian to fall back on, but as the weeks of my study abroad went by, I became comfortable in my blooming independence. During the last few weeks, I backpacked alone in other countries, and that’s when I realized how much I truly grew. 

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
During the first weekend, our entire program went on a trip to a beach. As I was sitting on the beach, feeling the cool breeze and smelling the freshness of the ocean, talking with complete strangers who were just as excited to be in Spain as me, I realized that this was really happening and I’d never get another moment with such a unique blend of curiosity, a little bit of fear, and so much joy. 

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
The biggest piece of advice that I have is to just go with the flow and not worry too much. Things will go wrong, that’s the nature of life. It’s how you react to the uncertainty that dictates the impact it will have. And things almost always end up working out in the end.  While I was heading to Spain, I missed my flight due to a short connection time. My biggest fear about flying abroad for the first had materialized. I wanted to cry, but I took a deep breath and marched to the customer service counter. Apparently connections at CLT get missed all the time, so they gave us new tickets to London instead of Dublin. Sure, I arrived 12 hours later than I expected, but I still made it to Spain and now I can say I’ve been to the UK (even if it’s just the airport!) 

How do you identify?
Student of color, LGBTQ+, Student with a disability, Scholarship Recipient

Could you share any experiences where your identity played a role in your time abroad?
There were a few times me and my friends faced a little bit of discrimination. Sometimes people would bark at us on the street because were black. Sometimes clubs wouldn’t let us in because we’re black. However, I think I actually felt safer as an LGBT person in Spain than I do in the United States. I remember the first day I walked down the street and there was two men hugging and kissing eachother while walking down the street and I thought that was amazing.

Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?
If you’re black, check the reviews of clubs before you go to them. 

Memories