Joseline T., President 

Pronouns: She/Her
Majors: Psychology
Minor: Biology and  Human Development & Family Sciences
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Spring 2025 WorldStrides Dunedin, New Zealand
Ask Me About:
Being a first generation student abroad
First time in a new country
Gilman Scholarship

Studying abroad was a groundbreaking experience. It has provided insight about my past, present and future. I was able to learn about another society, culture and language while deepening my connection with my own. I will never forget the people and the memories I made abroad.   

Samiyah K., President

Major: Chemical Engineering
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: REEP Spring 2025 at KFUPM in Saudi Arabia

International Experience: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia, UAE, South Korea

Ask Me About:
Being a STEM student abroad
Living in the Middle East

Learning abroad has impacted me by helping me grow both academically and personally. I was able to challenge myself in a new academic setting while also immersing myself in a different culture. It also taught me independence, adaptability, and how to connect with people from different cultural backgrounds, which has made me more confident and open-minded. Through learning abroad, I met amazing people and built meaningful connections that I know will last a lifetime.

 

Beliz O., Communications Officer

Pronouns: She/her 
Majors: Digital Media
Minor: Technology Leadership and Innovation Management
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: AIFS Summer 2026 London, England
International Experience: Turkey
Ask Me About: 

Solo traveling and living independently for the first time
Connecting with the local community and making new friendships
Stepping outside of comfort zone and getting out of the “tourist” mindset
Balancing academics while abroad and travelling

Studying abroad is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and has become an experience I will never forget. I met the most incredible people from all around the world and was able to grow both personally and academically. Living in London taught me how to experience a new place beyond the mindset of a tourist but by becoming part of the culture, connecting with the people around me, and seeing everyday life from a different perspective. I was able to learn so much and it has definitely made me certain that I want to continue traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures.

Amy I., Media Relations Officer 

 

Majors: Health
Minor: Spanish for the Global Professions
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program:  2026 Arcos Oaxaca
International Experience: Nigeria, Canada, UK
Ask Me About:
Spanish Language Immersion
Living with a host family
Traveling internationally alone for the first time

Learning abroad has impacted me greatly. It is something I have always wanted to do, and for a long time, I have had a strong interest in Latin American languages and cultures. Through the ARCOS program, I was able to experience daily language and culture immersion with a wonderful host family and amazing professors who created a welcoming environment that allowed me to learn so much more than I ever anticipated. Mexico is such a beautiful and diverse country with an incredibly rich culture, and there was nowhere better to experience that than Oaxaca. Visiting the Monte Albán ruins was truly unforgettable. It is a Zapotec city built around 500 BC that sparked a newfound curiosity in me for archaeology. I also had the privilege of visiting El Árbol del Tule, one of the oldest and widest trees in the world, at over 2,000 years old, which was such a humbling and incredible sight. Volunteering hands-on with patients at the Mexican Red Cross gave me real-world exposure to public health in a community setting that deepened my academic experience. I also formed meaningful friendships with fellow ARCOS students and with UABJO students through our language exchanges, which made the experience even more beautiful. This experience is one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Angel F.S. 

Pronouns: He/Him
Majors: Political Science
Minor: National Security Studies
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Summer 2024 UH Faculty-Led program in Cadiz, Spain 
International Experience: Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rica, Canada
Ask Me About:
Traveling on a student budget
Living with a host family 
Stepping out of your comfort zone

Studying abroad helped build a deeper connection with people I never thought I’d ever be able to relate to, friends and family close to me, and most significantly, myself. The language skills I picked up bridged the gap between my distant relatives and I, in addition to the millions of new people, domestic and foreign, I can now directly connect and share with. What impacted me the most, however, was seeing the true value of cultural differences, not as divisions but as distinctions that make us all beautifully and uniquely human.   

Kayleigh W.

Major: Psychology
Minor: Human Development and Family Sciences
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Arcos Learning Abroad to Spain
Ask Me About:

IES Scholarship recipient

Solo traveling abroad

During my time there, I’ve made close relationships with my host family and my former roommate, almost like a second family, and created so many fun memories with other students that were in the program that I’ll cherish for life! While I did have a few challenges to adapt in a new environment and to believe I was capable of learning Spanish, studying abroad was truly a unique experience. I have learned a lot about myself, a little more about the language, the Spanish culture!

Ava T. 

Major: Biology
Minor: French, Medicine & Society
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Spring 2025 Swansea University exchange, Summer 2024 Angers Faculty-Led program
International Experience: France

Ask Me About:

Living with a host family

Faculty-led vs. reciprocal exchange

Solo/paired travel & problem-solving abroad

Balancing academics with travel and logistics

Learning abroad pushed me to become more independent, adaptable, and confident in my ability to navigate unfamiliar environments. Experiencing both a faculty-led program in France and a reciprocal exchange in the UK allowed me to grow academically while learning how to balance coursework, travel, and daily life abroad. These experiences broadened my perspective and reinforced my desire to stay engaged with global communities.

 

Colby A.

Major: Finance
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Fall 2025 KEI Tokyo, Japan
International Experience: Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, Turkey
Ask Me About:
Gilman Scholarship
Self-taught language learning
Traveling with an affiliate provider (KEI)
Solo traveling abroad

I consider my half-a-year in Japan to be the best, most transformative experience of my life. Everyday brought something new as well as opportunities to immerse myself in a culture, language, and everyday lifestyle that was completely different from my own. Being able to experience and live in a culture and language I've loved and only had previously experienced from home has changed my life, and I believe an an experience like this can change anyone's life as long as you allow it to. Living in an international dorm with not only a lot of Japanese students but also students from different cultures, being a part of a badminton club as the only foreign student, and volunteering and getting involved with the local community on and off campus helped me build life long relationships, memories and experiences I will never forget, and opportunities I would've never had, had I not done my semester abroad. With not only sharing my experiences with others, but also providing resources and advice on language learning, saving money and alternative funding options such as the Gilman Scholarship, and also my struggles of making my abroad dreams happen with various obstacles in the way, I hope I can encourage others and be a person of support for those who have dreams of studying and living abroad.

Joshua B.

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Air Force Leadership Studies, Medicine & Society, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics
Class Year: Junior
Learning Abroad Program: Summer 2026 UH Faculty-led Connecting Coastal Resilience in the Netherlands
International Experience: As the Projects Director for Engineers without Borders, I work with communities in Guatemala and Rwanda to promote access to safe drinking water.

Ask Me About:

Engineering abroad

Faculty-led programs

Solo traveling abroad

 

Exploring a different country has always been a dream of mine. I was able to (briefly) explore four different countries on my trip and each beat all of my expectations. The people I met and the amazing environments I experienced have inspired me to travel the world for the rest of my life. 

 

Damien G.

Pronouns: He/Him
Major: Accounting
Minor: Finance
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Summer 2026 USAC Viterbo, Italy
International Experience: Mexico
Ask Me About:
Being a First Generation College Student Abroad
Navigation and Getting Around
Balancing Exploring and Academics

At first I was reluctant to go abroad because I wasn’t sure I’d fit in, but with time I made friends and connections I didn’t think I’d ever make which I am eternally grateful for. Through them I got to learn more about what goes on closer to home while being abroad, it was fun explaining the concept of Buc-ee’s to my friends who live in New York and Idaho!
During my time here, I’ve travelled to 7 different main cities which is when I learned I have a knack for planning and researching modes of transportation. Whether it was the metro subways in Rome, buses in Verona, or even the vaporetto system in Venice, I’ve learned to quickly adapt in different situations and effectively lead my friends and have fulfilling adventures across Italy.

Aminah H.

Major: Biotechnology
Minor: Medicine & Society
Class Year: Junior
Learning Abroad Program: Summer 2026 CIEE Global Internship in Tokyo, Japan
Ask Me About:
Solo traveling abroad
Internships abroad

Gilman/IES/Applying for financial aid

Learning abroad has profoundly impacted how I view my field of study and my career trajectory. I am now more motivated to continue developing my senses of responsibility and independence, as well as approach things that I was once hesitant about. I've met people from all around the world and have realized how important community is, even across borders!

Aziz A.

Pronouns: He/Him
Majors: Management Information Systems
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Spring 2026 CEA CAPA Barcelona, Spain
Ask Me About:
Studying abroad as an MIS major
How to budget properly 
Must-see sites in Europe

Learning abroad was a life-changing experience that taught me how to find space for myself within different communities and how to connect with people on a deeper level. My time abroad has taught me so many things about myself that I otherwise wouldn't have known about myself. 

Ava C.

Pronouns: She/Her
Major: Public Health
Minor: Psychology
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Mexican American Urban Communities in Granada, Spain
International Experience: Mexico, Italy, Costa Rica, El Salvador, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands
Ask Me About:
Living with a host family
Faculty-led programs

Participating in the study abroad program allowed me to fully immerse myself in another culture, giving me a deeper appreciation for how history, architecture, customs, and traditions all come together to shape a country and its communities. This experience helped me become more well-versed in multicultural conversations and gain a better understanding of cultures outside of my own. By learning from the people and communities around me, I was able to broaden my perspective and develop a greater appreciation for the unique experiences and traditions that shape different communities.

Diego I. 

Major: Finance and Management Information Systems
Class Year: Junior
Learning Abroad Program: Spring 2026 Worldstrides Madrid, Spain
Ask Me About:

Financing a learning abroad program

Living with a host family

Traveling while abroad

 

Studying abroad was truly a special experience that taught me so much about myself. It allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and experience different cultures and ways of life, which gave me a new perspective on the world. 

Katelyn L.

Majors: Biology
Minor: Spanish, Studio Art
Class Year: Junior
Learning Abroad Program: Worldstrides at Veritas University in San Jose, Costa Rica
Ask Me About:
Deciding to do a Spanish minor
Living with a host family with other exchange students
Life happening at home while studying abroad

This was probably THE experience of my lifetime. I was able to see so many animals I've never seen before, walk a different way of life, and make so many connections that I don't think I'll ever forget. For my personal life, studying abroad also enabled a time of self-reflection that influenced my sense of independence and self-worth. I thank the travelling abroad experience, but also the friendships I had made for opening my eyes to a bigger world with infinite possibilities. 

Angela H.

Majors: Photography and Digital Media
Minor: Advertising
Class Year: Senior
Learning Abroad Program: Summer 2025 UH Faculty-led CMALS Oaxaca, Mexico; Apring 2026 UH Facutly-led COTA Mexico City, Mexico; Summer 2026 UH Faculty-led Cadiz, Spain
International Experience: Canada and France
Ask Me About:

International Education Scholarship
First generation college student abroad
Traveling to countries where English is not primary language

Learning abroad completely transformed my perspective by forcing me to step outside my comfort zone and navigate unfamiliar environments. Traveling across different cultures taught me real independence, adaptability, and how to communicate meaningfully with people from all backgrounds. Experiencing life in new places built a level of self-reliance and confidence that I simply couldn't have gained in a classroom. Overall, it gave me a broader worldview and a fresh mindset that directly impacts how I approach my goals at UH and in my personal life.