I have always loved to travel, ever since I was little. My parents would take me on trips and vacations all over New England. I’ve been to Florida six times, Niagara Falls once, and Washington D.C. once. All for family vacations. It was these trips, I feel, that have cemented my love for travel. This is partly why I chose to study abroad the fall semester of my Junior year. The other reason, obviously, comes down to my academics.

I am currently double majoring in History and English, and what better place could there be to study these subjects than England? Steeped in thousands of years of history, and hundreds upon hundreds of great masterpieces of literature to study. Winchester, being a more traditional English city, seems the perfect spot in England to go to learn about these topics. Being so close to London, with all of its historic sites and landmarks, was also a big draw for me to choose this university.

I am no stranger to travel abroad either, at least since last summer. That is when I had the privilege to participate in a special course sponsored by the Honors Program of USM. That course involved a ten-day trip to Iceland, all expenses paid. It was here that my work ethic was truly put to the test. Could I complete all of my assignments while trying to take in as much of a foreign country as possible? The answer was yes. It was a wonderful experience all around, and I had the chance to make lifelong friends as a result.

This upcoming summer I will also be participating in another course, similar to this one. The one I’m talking about will involve a two-week stay in China, sponsored by the Confucius Institute at USM. The course will revolve heavily around learning the Chinese language.

My desire to attend these trips, besides the fact that they are simply amazing opportunities, is not just steeped in my love of travel. It also stems from my academic and professional aspirations. I would like to think that, through these programs, I am building an extensive resume for myself.

With an impressive repertoire of varied foreign countries under my belt, academically, my intention is to expand my view of the world and the various peoples that inhabit it. With the increasingly globalized society that we live in today, I feel that it will help me immensely to get a true multicultural education. Not only that, but most employers look for experiences like this during the hiring process.

The study abroad program is severely underutilized by students here at USM. Each year, only 100 students on average go abroad for short courses of one to two weeks. Even less going on semester-long programs, about 40. I know that not everyone can necessarily afford to go on trips, but in my experience, there are some very good deals out there people may be missing.

I would highly recommend studying abroad to any college students. Look around, explore your options, there are some very affordable programs. It is a once in a lifetime experience, and I would hate to see people miss out on any opportunities if they truly want to travel and gain a new perspective on their world.