Education Abroad Scotland: Jamin Ochoa’s Life-Changing Journey

Judy Oskam: 0:03

Welcome to Stories of Change and Creativity Scotland Edition. This is a short series where I explore how people navigate change and embrace creativity even when the path isn't clear. I'm Judy Oskam and in this edition I'm coming to you from Queen Margaret University near Edinburgh, scotland. I'm teaching a three-week public relations course as part of Texas State University's Education Abroad program and along the way I'm sitting down with students, faculty and local professionals to capture their stories. From first-time travelers to creative pros. These conversations reveal how global experiences can shape who we are and how we communicate with the world. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Jamin Ochoa: 0:59

I am Jamin Ochoa. I am a junior at Texas State University. Right now I'm studying advertising, but maybe pr. That's a potential switch for me in the future.

Judy Oskam: 1:08

But they're both great degrees and they work very well yes, they do so you don't really have.

Jamin Ochoa: 1:13

You can't go wrong there I'm a little yeah, I'm a little nervous advertising just because it doesn't align with a lot of like what I hold to my core values with selling and I know everything's business. But advertising is really strictly business, which is why I'm kind of on the verge to switch.

Judy Oskam: 1:27

But I know I can do but you can also go the creative side, because you are super, super creative. I have seen it in class you think?

Jamin Ochoa: 1:34

I think I feel like I lack my creativity a lot. Oh, my god that might be my imposter syndrome a little bit now, that's your imposter.

Judy Oskam: 1:40

Don't worry about that, okay. Okay, Well we're here in Queen Margaret University, the campus near Edinburgh.

Jamin Ochoa: 1:48

Yes, near Edinburgh.

Judy Oskam: 1:50

So why did you pick this program and why Scotland?

Jamin Ochoa: 1:54

Well, full transparency. Originally I was going to go to Japan Well, at least I wanted to. But then looking at the price point I was like it's very expensive, very insane. I mean it looked really, really fun, but also it was, um, like kind of like tour guide-ish and like you kind of like were always with your class and always going to like certain events, and even though that seemed interesting, that wasn't really what I like to do. I'm kind of like a homebody, I like to kind of just go and do things on my own, um. And so I looked at Scotland and I saw that we were here for three weeks, which is a lot longer than any other program we have at Texas State other than like the semester of brides. So I was like that's amazing. And then also my mom said the family's from Scotland, so we're from the Glasgow area. So I thought it'd be kind of cool to come and like see. And actually I went to Glasgow last week and I got to like find my clan, like pins and stuff.

Judy Oskam: 2:39

So that was really cool. Do you have any uh family there at?

Jamin Ochoa: 2:42

all not that I know of, I think, because with my history, like we were during Scottish revolution or something, you were exiled for the most part, yeah, but it was still really cool to see. Oh, I love that. I didn't know that. Yes, I might go today actually to see my castles, but I don't know I think I would try and go before you go that's what I'm thinking, but I actually plan to come back. Maybe I'm putting this the air, but I kind of want to get my master's here.

Judy Oskam: 3:04

I love it.

Jamin Ochoa: 3:05

So maybe I'm too much of a dreamer, maybe not.

Judy Oskam: 3:07

No, always go for that. And again, there's some great opportunities here and in Edinburgh. Well, I love that and I think you really kind of captured the two different type of programs. Our Japan program is fantastic. It really is amazing and our faculty do a great job, but it is sort of like the amazing race and that's how the other trips I've been and this is the first trip I've been that's been more campus based, and I also like it because you feel like you really do live here.

Jamin Ochoa: 3:36

Yes.

Judy Oskam: 3:36

You know, and so in doing that, we've had class Monday through Thursday. Yes, what have you then done after class, and what, what sights and sounds that you can tell?

Jamin Ochoa: 3:47

well, we've all like found kind of our groups here within the class, which kind of also super nice that we were able to connect with people, and like kind of choose, because I know like we have our freedom, we, that's the big thing here is your freedom and your independence. And so, like after class, at 12, typically, we'll all like get together, like okay, what do want to do today? What's the vibe? Sometimes I'll eat lunch. I make sandwiches. That's my big thing here. A peanut butter sandwich gets me a long way, which is very shocking, that's right. So I'll make a sandwich or two and then we'll be like okay, where do you want to go?

Jamin Ochoa: 4:13

We've gone to Edinburgh Castle. We've gone to Dean's Village. Circus Lane is a times um. We did a highlands tour last sorry, last um sunday or this sunday. Yeah, we did a Highlands tour. I kind of I love to just go into Edinburgh and just find a park or find a little green area and just sit, because I feel like those third spaces that we have here we don't really have back home, right, and if we do have them, they're not as they're hot they're hot, or they're like not as popularized, or like be just being present in the moment.

Jamin Ochoa: 4:42

Sometimes we don't we forget about to do in america because go, that's kind of my go-to is just go and find a place to just be and just enjoy the, the people.

Judy Oskam: 4:54

People watch the weather. Oh my gosh.

Jamin Ochoa: 4:57

Yes yes, oh, the national gallery yeah, I've gone a couple times that as well.

Judy Oskam: 5:00

It's just really cool well, you're sitting here talking to me in a turtleneck sweater and it's june and in texas. It's going to be really hot when we get back, but well, you know what are you going to take back with you from this experience. How have you changed?

Jamin Ochoa: 5:19

I think, coming here, I mean one of the things you said during our like orientation meetings was like to be like you could be whoever you want to be. Yeah, like, don't come with any baggage, don't come with anything, just kind of come and I. That's something that stuck with me, and one of my big things, back home at least, is like I like to dress up and like to like explore a little bit, but I've always, you know, I know people, people know me, they see me like, oh, if I look crazy, everyone's gonna be like oh, wow, what is he doing? And then coming here, I knew nobody, so that was kind of a thing. I mean, you see me in class. Sometimes I pull up in like a turtleneck. I've never worn a turtleneck before and so was kind of cool to see, and so it sounds crazy.

Jamin Ochoa: 5:49

But just being able to experiment through clothes in another country, I think, taking back from that, I think when I go home I'm going to not care as much what other people think and I think I've become more confident being here, which is shocking, because that's not something I expected to get. Most people say they come back, they just enjoy the country and they're like wow, it's so fun and it's's so crazy, but I don't hear a lot of internal changes from a lot of people who go especially on like the amazing race trips. I think, being here and being able to be my own person and do what I want, and I think that is something I'll take back and I don't, like I'll ever forget about well and, and I think, a lot of the your group projects and I've tried to get you guys to work in groups and you've done you.

Judy Oskam: 6:29

You guys have been fantastic. You've actually gone out and you've talked to businesses, you've done projects, you've you've learned about public relations and this is the intro class. So you've done phenomenal. But I think, working together in a team, I've seen you really connect with your colleagues and you didn't know each other before.

Jamin Ochoa: 6:48

No, yeah, we all. I mean especially I knew Raina a little bit because at the first orientation I was like, oh, I'm gonna travel outside of the trip after and she was like I want to do that. So we kind of talked a little bit. We only met like three times before we got here, um, but then like people like allison and those people I really connected to why we're here, and it was just a really cool experience to be able to meet people and realize, wait, we go to the same school or, granted, our university is. Wait, we go to the same school, granted our university is huge.

Jamin Ochoa: 7:11

But we go to the same school but we've never met and we have so much in common, which is crazy. But I'm grateful that we met on the strip.

Judy Oskam: 7:17

What would you say to people that are considering a study abroad or they're considering Scotland? What would you say they're thinking I don't know if I want to do it. It costs a lot of money. We know it costs a lot of money and time.

Jamin Ochoa: 7:32

What would time? What would you tell them? It sounds crazy, but just to do it, yeah, I mean, especially on the money end. I mean I'm here paying nothing out of my own dime. I got all of it paid for by scholarships. So it's very possible to do um plan ahead. Definitely don't like, if it's a broader something you want to do, think about that when you a year or two in advance, so you can think about what classes do I want to save, which program, how much money do I need to start saving up? Because it does add up the money here. Even just food is like $30 USD for some meals. I'm like, wow, that's ridiculous.

Judy Oskam: 7:58

That's where the sandwiches come in. That's where the sandwiches come in, that's right.

Jamin Ochoa: 8:01

I would say, just to really do it. I think, even if it's a country you're not super excited about, even if it's not your first choice, like it wasn't mine, you'll learn a lot about different cultures and you'll, I think it'll open up your eyes. Is even now, especially in today's day and age. I'm looking back in America and being like, well, maybe some things should be different or maybe some things are good there and it's just a good perspective to see what I'm lucky. I'm lucky for where I was born. Like the fate of where we were born is one of the most grateful things that you can be grateful for, and I think coming to another country can either open up your eyes to being like, hey, I should be grateful. Hey, maybe it's time to push for some change.

Judy Oskam: 8:36

Yeah, yeah, that's very insightful. And what will you do different besides the not caring what anyone thinks? What will you do different now, when you go back? Because now you'll be looking at it with a different lens.

Jamin Ochoa: 8:51

You're an international student right now I think and that's scary, it's, I've been thinking about it for the past couple days like going back. It's going to be a very different change and it's going to be very jarring, I think a little bit, especially because you've been here for so long. But I think when I go back, I think I'm going to try to put myself out there more, especially in the sense I think having all these guest speakers in our class has been really insightful to being like hey, sometimes you just need to try something, you just need to do it. And like even this podcast I was a little nervous for it.

Jamin Ochoa: 9:19

I never do things like this, but I mean, I'm in mass communication. I need to start getting used to doing things like this. I know, I know, and so I think, telling you about on like social media, I want to start pushing myself more in a professional way on social media. Don't know if I will take me anywhere, but I love social media. It's my, it's my like passion and so I think, maybe trying to find a way to maybe monetize it or, as your daughter does, like Jess, just find a way to make that more of just a oh I like to post every now and then to this is what I do, this is my hobby, and maybe that hobby can become a job yeah, I, I love that.

Judy Oskam: 9:50

I love that. So you're giving us some guidance on how we can make some changes to the program next year, and that's really insightful. Any last words about what surprised you the most about Scotland.

Jamin Ochoa: 10:06

And I, because of how historical I think Scotland comes across and how traditional it seems, I kind of expected it to be a lot more, I guess, traditional than it is. I think, coming here not to be super political either, but it's super progressive, super open and I think people don't care about other people. You see people in the street acting crazy. Everyone's like okay, whatever. That's part of it, that's life and I think that has been very surprising because when you look at scotland you look at a lot of uk specifically, so historically rich, so traditionally rich, um, but I guess the people are.

Jamin Ochoa: 10:38

The people are what make the country, not the sites and I think that's a good, that's a good, yeah, I think that has been very insightful, to see that the people here what make the country and that they are great people. And the people here are just nice and progressive and open and nonjudgmental, which is also shocking. I thought Americans were hated everywhere we go, but being here, I haven't heard a single negative thing about Americans, which has been very just. I think the people just have been very, very nice.

Judy Oskam: 11:01

And I think that's been the most surprising thing. Yeah, and it is all about the people, and I know one of your colleagues really talked about the transportation.

Jamin Ochoa: 11:10

Oh my gosh, love the public transportation. It is so nice to be able to take a bus and like we have buses in America, but it's not. It's not. This and the train. Oh my goodness, it's so nice.

Judy Oskam: 11:17

Yeah, yeah, it's so easy to to to get around, so so again, last advice for students that are thinking of education abroad anywhere in the world.

Jamin Ochoa: 11:36

I think. I think to maybe push yourself, I think even even the idea of going abroad is scary and it's like the days before this plane, the plane here, I was like I don't want to go, I'm going to cancel it, I don't want to go.

Judy Oskam: 11:47

It that from somebody else?

Jamin Ochoa: 11:48

too. It's so horrifying to completely upend your life and to go in a whole other country where you might not be welcomed or you might not feel accepted. But I think there's a lot more in store than you think and I think it's going to be an experience you won't forget. It's an experience, it's going to change you and, like me, who might come back and might take a master's here? It might open so many doors for you that you never knew were possible. So sometimes it's okay to close your door of hey, I want to have a Kachow summer. Hey, I want to stay in America. Close that door. Close that door, leave the window open, but close that door and go abroad and take opportunities and take risks, because that's what's going to make you who you are in the future.

Judy Oskam: 12:22

Love it, love it.

Jamin Ochoa: 12:24

Thank you so much, thank you thank you for the class this whole. It's been really enjoyable. It's been fun. It's been so fun. I it was nervous about the class aspect but it's completely turned around and it's well my goal is always how to?

Judy Oskam: 12:35

how to get you guys out and into the world and learn which you have, which is a nerve-wracking, but you have, but you guys did it, and again we only have nine students in the class. But you guys have worked very well and I'm just I'm amazed. I'm sharing some of your projects with the qmu folks to really show them the level, and you guys aren't even seniors yet not even there yet.

Jamin Ochoa: 12:58

Intro class, intro class. Yeah, our classes have done really well. Just wait, I love it, let's see what's the story y'all go, bobcats go bobc.

Judy Oskam: 13:10

Thanks so much for joining us on Stories of Change and Creativity, Scotland Edition. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure and follow the podcast and give us a like and a review. It really helps more listeners discover these inspiring stories. Thanks for listening.