Pepler, Avery

Avery Pepler

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
Being the daughter of someone who spent a large portion of their 20s backpacking and hitchhiking, I grew up with the same desire to see the world. My father speaks of his traveling days with so much joy and endearment, something I wished to experience as well. With this being said, UNC's wide range of study abroad opportunities played a key factor in my decision to accept my spot. I am an early college graduate, meaning that I only have two years at Carolina. I knew I wanted to spend as much time as possible getting the on-campus Carolina experience, which is why I chose a summer program instead of a full semester. When looking at my summer abroad options, CYA, College Year in Athens, immediately caught my eye. I kept looking for other programs, but I knew I was ultimately going to choose CYA. Visiting Greece has been at the top of my bucket list for as long as I can remember, and CYA's program is built so that every student can explore as much of the country as possible within their given time frame. Although it is called College Year in ATHENS, each class visited a wide variety of cities and islands, including Athens, where our school building and apartments were located. My class of 9 students visited Paros, Thessaloniki, Meteora, Philippi, Delphi, Sounion, Asprovalta, Trikala, and Steiri all within our four-week course.

What did you learn about yourself?
While abroad, I made connections with not only my classmates and fellow CYAers, but also a few locals and shop owners that I frequently ran into. All of these connections and new friendships taught me the importance of human connection. While I understand that this may come off as a cliche, I truly cannot express the amount of community that I felt within my month abroad. Whether it was between my roommates, my classmates, other study abroad students I met on the street, or the local coffee shop owner that remembered my name for a full month after only meeting him once, I felt welcomed and cared for from the second I arrived. This serves as a reminder to me how important it is to build connections with those around you, to reach out, to invite someone, or to tell someone you care about them.

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
I was enrolled in the Religion/Philosophy course, which consisted of reading the texts of Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates, as well as diving a little into Greek Mythology. During the course, we would learn about various legends and past events, and then we would travel to the exact location or monument where said legend/event took place. Standing in the Agora, on top of the Acropolis, climbing the Temple of Apollo, visiting the Temple of Poseidon, and so many more, were some of the most incredible, magical, and eye-opening experiences. Standing in the exact locations of the many stories and historical accounts I was actively learning about was something I will forever cherish. 

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
You WILL form friendships, you WILL fit in, and you WILL make the most unforgettable memories. You are only there for a short period of time, and it WILL be over before you know it, so make the absolute most of your time. Go out, ask someone out, explore a different town, and take risks (responsibly).

How do you identify?
LGBTQ+, First Generation College Student, Scholarship Recipient, Rural County Resident, $5,000 Summer Study Abroad Fellowship Recipient

Memories