How Studying Abroad in Scotland Builds Confidence

A trip that can change you

Judy Oskam 0:02

What if one trip could change the direction of your life? Welcome to Stories of Change and Creativity. I'm Judy Oskam. In this episode, you'll hear from three Texas State University students who are living and learning in Scotland. They're in the middle of an experience that may shape who they become. Not just years from now, but right now. After lunch one afternoon, we found a quiet spot in the administration building at Queen Margaret University. It was just around the corner from the cafeteria. I pulled out my iPhone and I passed the microphone from student to student. I was wanting to know how the experience was changing them. Their answers are honest and unscripted. As you listen, I want you to think about your own life. What experiences are changing you and what could be in your future? What's next? Let's take a listen.

Libby chases a sunrise and sunset

Judy Oskam 1:11

M

Libby Sanchez 1:11

My name is Libby Sanchez and I'm a Digital Media Innovation Major. So tell me a little bit about the experience you've had so far. Why did you take this class in the first place? I took this class in the first place because I wanted another um opportunity to travel and study. And I figured why not leave the country this time? Because last time I just stayed in the States. I went to Maine. And so I was like, okay, let's go a step further now that I know I could do something like that. And so this one, I needed this credit to graduate. So I was like, okay, let's do one last big trip before I graduate and let's go to Scotland. Why not?

Judy Oskam 1:43

Well, you've had a lot of great experiences. You your photography is amazing. And for listeners to go take a look at some of your photos are just amazing on Instagram and online. What experience has been the most impactful for you?

Libby Sanchez 2:00

Okay, that's easy. We're gonna go straight back to yesterday, actually. It's the last week of the trip, and um I'm not a morning person by any means. Um, but last time I studied um in Maine, I got the opportunity to catch a sunrise, and there's really just no experience like that. And so on this trip, I knew I wanted to do the same things, but coming to a new country and not knowing anybody you're going with, you never know if you're gonna meet people just as adventurous or who won't have the same interests or want to see the same things as you. And I got really lucky because I met Sarah over here, who's just as adventurous and wants to see anything and everything she can with her time here. And so, sure enough, here in Scotland, the sun rises at 4:30 in the morning. And we were up ready to go by 2:30, and we hiked up Arthur's seat, found a hill. There was nobody up there, maybe only a handful of people, and we got to watch the sun break the horizon. And not only that, we got we made it back in time for class. Yeah, um, and then we uh took a small nap through the day, and then we also caught last night sunset in North Berwick along the beach, and so we saw sunrise and sunset, and that was just one of my longest days, 24 hours up for sure. Um, but one of the best experiences ever to witness a full day, a full cycle like that in a new country when you don't get to do that routine every day back home. So that was something.

Judy Oskam 3:34

Well, and what what did you learn from that? What did you learn from that? I'm all about, you know, learn, grow, and share.

Libby Sanchez 3:42

I learned that it's important to take initiative, even if you're unsure and you don't know that, even if other people don't want to do it. Like I I'd like to say I don't think I would have done that if Sarah hadn't wanted to go, I wouldn't have gone by myself. But I like to think that maybe I would have. Um, but having Sarah do that too, that was like super courageous, and that gave me the extra push to be like, okay, let's let's go do it. Why not? Let's be sleep deprived. It'll be worth it, even if we do have class later. How many times are we gonna be able to say we went to Scotland, we caught a sunrise at 4 30 in the morning, and then caught a sunset at like 10 p.m. that night, too? We saw a full cycle day go through.

Judy Oskam 4:19

Well, and Libby in class, you've just always been a leader in class and always someone that steps up and says yes. Is that just your nature?

Libby Sanchez 4:26

Is that just no, not at all. Um a hundred percent not at all. It's definitely just a new environment. Um, you could ask Dale. When I first met Dale, I never spoke a word in his class. I sat there and just listened to his lecture. I have no idea how I got picked to go to Maine because again, I I didn't engage like the other students in that class who also went on that trip. I never raised my hands for questions or anything like that. But then you put me in a new environment and it's just like, wow, I guess my adventurous side comes out and I want to see it all, I want to do it all, I want to talk about it all with the people who are there.

Judy Oskam 5:04

So yes, and you you're so lucky because you capture the images to help tell the story of the thing. I love that. Super talented. Thank you.

Libby Sanchez 5:15

That means a lot, yes.

Judy Oskam 5:16

Super talented. Well, and what would you say to students that may be a little bit afraid to jump on a plane and go to a different country?

Libby Sanchez 5:26

Um one of my like biggest things because I get I get so anxious before I do anything like that. Um, my biggest quote, like since I've been little, is like um I think it's by Christopher Pellini, without fear, there could be no courage. And that just like if you don't have the fear, you're not gonna be able to push yourself to go. And if you don't explore it, you're gonna be mad at yourself later. Yeah. And that's also my biggest thing is I think I'd rather go and know for sure than sit and think and ponder on it and regret it. And no regrets, no regrets whatsoever. I love it. Sleep deprived, but no regrets ever. Um, going into town today, you get a new hard drive because we have so many photos to edit just from the last few days. But yeah, no regrets ever. That's fantastic. Well, let's pass the mic over to Sarah.

Sarah on choosing the Edinburgh Hub Program

Libby Sanchez 6:17

Yes. Oh my gosh, my partner crime, Sarah.

Judy Oskam 6:20

That's right, Sarah.

Libby Sanchez 6:21

Libby Sanchez 6:21

So, Sarah, tell me your name and what your major is and what class you're taking here.

Sarah Hervey 6:26

My name is Sarah Hervey. My major is psychology with a minor in religious studies, and I am taking the history, um, US history, the 1877 class. Yeah.

Judy Oskam 6:37

So talk about why you picked Edinburgh. Why'd you pick a Texas State Hub?

Sarah Hervey 6:42

I actually have looked at a lot of study abroad options because I have always known that I wanted to do study abroad um because it's just such a cool opportunity. And originally, Edinburgh was not my first choice. I wanted to go to Spain or to Italy, um, but none of those classes were anything that I needed. And so I looked at this one and I still needed my history credit. Um and so I also looked at the cost and it was the cheapest one, and I thought, oh, perfect, this is great. Um and so yeah.

Judy Oskam 7:15

That's great. Well, and you ended up walking up Arthur's seat with Libby. Yes. So is do you have you always had a sense of adventure like that?

Sarah Hervey 7:24

Yes. I grew up going to Colorado to visit family, and so I grew up hiking and being outdoors a lot. And my dad was also in the military, so he spent a lot of his life traveling, and so that's just something I've kind of grown up with, and having that sense of adventure. Like I wanted to go skydiving while I was here. Oh my gosh. Didn't end up doing it, but definitely contemplated it, and so I've just always had the urge to travel and see new things and experience new things whenever I can.

Judy Oskam 7:57

Well, and what would you say to people that are thinking about education abroad? Is it really worth the money? Is it worth the time? What what would your advice be?

Sarah Hervey 8:07

I would say that it is 100% worth the money in the time because it's different than just going on a vacation. You get to spend more time. And like I also came here not knowing a single person and leaving with some really great friends and great connections, and that wouldn't have happened had I just been on a vacation. Right. And so you also have the opportunity to learn while applying it to your own personal growth that's happening on the trip.

Judy Oskam 8:37

I love that. Well, and one of your other friends just came up. Let's

Kinbe finds confidence and community

Judy Oskam 8:40

pass the mic to her and uh just kind of talk into the mic there and kind of talk, you know, introduce yourself and tell me what your major is and what class you're in.

Kinbe Perez 8:49

Okay, my name is Kinbe Perez, and my major is journalism with the sports media concentration. But I actually took the history class while I was here because I'm graduating in the fall, so I needed my one last history credit, and so it kind of worked out, and I wanted to study abroad. So um, I was also happy to be here with all of like the PR people too. Because I feel like I learned a lot from that, which is relevant to what I want to do with my career while also getting my history credit at the same time. So it was great.

Judy Oskam 9:17

I love that. Well, and talk about the bond of this group. This has been just a fantastic group of students for us. The teachers, there's three of us on the trip, and we always get together for coffee or something in the morning or at lunch, and we say, These students are amazing. Uh we're pinching ourselves, right? Because it just has been fantastic working with you guys. Talk about the connection with all that you've made.

Kinbe Perez 9:43

Like Sarah said, I didn't come in knowing anybody, and um, I was kind of comfortable with like, well, I could spend more time with myself too and get to know myself more, but it kind of just worked out great that it was such a great group here, and I made some really great friends. I think we've we've formed like close, like smaller connections, but then the group as a whole has all really gotten along too, which has been so fun. Um, yeah, and then the faculty here too is great. Um, Professor Robinson was amazing. I I loved her class, and I'm I'm not a history person, yeah, and I really thoroughly enjoyed that class. Um and taking it here in a different country was a plus as well. Yes.

Judy Oskam 10:24

That's great. Well, what do you take back from this experience into your career? Because you're graduating sooner than these guys are.

Kinbe Perez 10:32

Yes, yeah. Well, yes. Oh, you two. Oh my gosh, so that's what it's like. Yeah, I feel like I just learned a lot about myself, and um, I feel like I gained confidence from coming here too. I think traveling by yourself and learning everything, learning the transportation, yeah, and then just meeting new people, talking to people. And I feel like I've gotten a lot more comfortable talking to strangers, which is a valuable thing to take into a career for sure. Um I love that.

Judy Oskam 11:01

Good. Well, any last comments you've had for someone thinking about education abroad? Should they do it? Is it worth the money?

Kinbe Perez 11:09

I would say studying abroad is absolutely worth it. I think being in college and being in your 20s, this is such a great time to do an experience like this and take advantage of it while you can. And I think it's important to do this before you graduate, get a job, start a family. It's just it's a different experience than you would get if you were doing it later on in life. So I think it's absolutely worth it.

Judy Oskam 11:38

Fantastic. Thank you guys. Appreciate

Learning happens beyond the classroom

Judy Oskam 11:41

you guys talking. Uh well, as a professor, episodes like this and conversations like this remind me why I love teaching. I just think it's fantastic to connect with people in this way. And uh people often think that college is about earning a degree and that's it. Well, yes, that's part of it, an important part of it. But some of the most important learning happens outside the classroom. It happens when students try something new and they meet people with different perspectives, and then they began to see themselves in a different way. That's why I wanted to share these conversations with you. They capture three students in the middle of an experience that's still unfolding, and they don't have all the answers yet. None of us do. But sometimes that's when the best learning happens. I hope their stories make you think about your own. What experience changed you? What opportunity pushed you outside your comfort zone? And what's waiting next? Well, I'm Judy Oskam, and thanks for listening to Stories of Change and Creativity. Until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and remember every story has something to teach us.