In hopes of getting all students to consider a semester abroad, two Keene State College students shared their experiences in a presentation on the second floor of the student center, on Tuesday, November 3, 2015.
The program was the result of a collaboration between the Office of Multiculturalism and the Global Education Office, and featured KSC students, Katie Reed and Rachel Levy.
Annie Clark, the Coordinator of Multicultural Student Support at the Office of Multiculturalism, said that she was excited to have the two student presenters speak about their experiences studying abroad.
Reed, now a senior at KSC, spent the Spring 2016 semester studying abroad in Botswana.
Meghan Marcucci / Equinox Staff
Reed said that she would highly recommend studying abroad to any college student.
She said, “It’s a great way to enhance your education without sitting in a classroom.”
Clark, who had asked Reed and Levy to give presentations on their semesters abroad, said that she believes talking about experiences abroad is a great way for students to process what they went through after the fact.
“Students might also feel that talking about it can help them understand their experiences more deeply as time goes on, just by the process of sharing,” Clark said, “And a lot of them are busting at the seams to talk about it and share their pictures. They usually can’t get enough of that.”
The best part of studying abroad for Reed was being able to meet people from all different parts of the world.
“I loved talking to people and learning about the differences and similarities of our cultures. Not only was I able to learn so much about other people but I was able to learn more about myself in five months than I had in my entire life,” Reed explained.
Through programs such as this student-run presentation, Clark said she hopes to communicate that studying abroad is available to all KSC students.
One student who hopes to study abroad is Suzanne Hassanein, a KSC sophomore who has hopes to spend a semester in New Zealand for the Fall 2016 semester.
After sitting in on Reed’s presentation, Hassanein was more inspired than ever.
“I can tell that studying abroad was a life changing experience for [Reed], and I think it’s one that should be taken advantage of while we don’t have obligations,” Hassanein said.
Clark agreed, “I think it can be such a transformative experience, and such a valuable one. There’s no telling what the outcome will be.”
Hassanein said that she anticipates studying abroad, and is looking forward to a change in perspective.
She said, “I think it’s important [to] immerse yourself with change because being uncomfortable can cause someone to grow and develop into someone they never knew they were capable of becoming.”
The Office of Multiculturalism puts on weekly events and programs that range from student presentations to game nights of snacks and Jenga.
Clark said, of what she hopes to accomplish with the programs that her office puts on, “I want to see people discovering each other and learning from each other. I feel like these programs help people connect on campus – people you might never otherwise meet.”
Jill can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com
