High, Maggie

Maggie High

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
When I first decided to come to UNC, I knew that I wanted to study abroad during one of my summers. My eventual commitment to the pursuit of a study abroad program was motivated by my desire to immerse myself in a new culture and improve my Spanish speaking skills as a student of the Spanish for the Professions minors. I selected my program because it combined my interest in continuing to learn Spanish with my passion for the biological sciences, as I was able to take a Spanish course to further my progress in the minor and an upper level Biology course which did the same for my major. On top of these benefits, I chose a UNC-led program, of which the ease of credit transfer and the familiarity and comfort of having professors you already know are major perks.

What did you learn about yourself?
This experience showed me just how flexible I can be when I need to. I learned how long it takes me to adapt to new and perhaps uncomfortable situations and I found value in always searching for the bright side of a situation. I also learned a lot about my level of independence and my capacity for quick problem solving. Overall, my experience abroad taught me that in order to grow, you must be pushed out of your comfort zone.

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
It is almost impossible for me to choose one favorite memory from my program, but two moments that together were very impactful involved the repetition of an activity that my friends and I did on our first and last weekends together. On our first weekend in Sevilla, all of us being a little homesick and still warming up to each other, my new friends and I ascended Las Setas, a famous landmark of Sevilla, to watch the sun set over the city. This served as a great bonding experience for us. On our last weekend in Sevilla, having formed very close bonds over the past 5 weeks and now considering one another good friends, we once again went up Las Setas to watch the sunset. The "full-circle" feeling that I had was indescribable. These memories will last me a lifetime and that bittersweet feeling of being at the top of Las Setas for the sunset with my group for the last time will stick with me for a long time to come.

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
In my opinion, the chances that you will face "uncertainties" while abroad are quite high. However, it is important to see these uncertainties as opportunities for development. Find yourself in the wrong airport terminal and can't find the train to transfer? Use your Spanish skills to ask for information and get where you need to be. Not comfortable, but a chance for growth. Show up to your homestay and can't understand your host mom's accent? Ask her kindly to slow down, she doesn't want anything other than to help you. Not comfortable, but a chance for growth. Feeling homesick and like everyone else on your trip is fine? Confide in a friend; they are very likely feeling the exact same way. Not comfortable, but... you get the point. And if all that sounds a little scary, just remember, there is always, always someone looking out for you when you are abroad, whether it be your peers, your instructors, program directors, coordinators at the UNC Study Abroad Office, or even your family back home. You are not alone in anything, especially when it comes to finding yourself in a tough situation as a student living abroad.

How do you identify?
$5,000 Summer Study Abroad Fellowship Recipient

Memories