More than 35 programs were represented at the study abroad fair Monday afternoon in the Skutt Ballroom. In addition, eight affiliate study abroad programs including Sophia University in Japan, the University of Limerick in Ireland and the University of Glasgow in Scotland were represented.
The fair served as a way for students to become acquainted with the many programs that Creighton offers through chatting with faculty and past study abroad students, collecting pamphlets and signing up for list servs.
The next step for students would be to attend Study Abroad 101, which are held Fridays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Harper 4036, so that they can begin planning their courses and looking into what programs fit best with their majors according to Heather Torres, Creighton’s study abroad coordinator.
Carol Zuegner, an associate professor of journalism, encourages students to study abroad in one of the nearly 70 locations Creighton offers. Zuegner is one of the faculty members that leads Creighton’s backpack journalism program in which students film a documentary while studying abroad. The program has gone to Uganda the past two years but is going to rural Alaska this coming summer to study poverty.
“People should study abroad because we really need to learn about ourselves, and when you are studying abroad you are able to see the world so differently,” Zuegner said.
Hannah Smith, an Arts & Sciences sophomore, hopes to study abroad in Spain next semester and also wants to experience self-discovery while abroad.
“I really hope to improve my Spanish; hopefully become fluent. But I’m also excited to learn about the Spanish culture and more about myself,” Smith said.
Studying abroad can also equip college students with a sense of independence. Anna Shymanski, an Arts & Sciences senior, studied abroad in Italy during the past spring semester and agrees that a sense of self was one of the greatest things she learned.
“For me, independence was the biggest thing I learned,” she said. “Having lived in Omaha my whole life, I couldn’t call my parents and expect them to help me with something immediately if I needed it while I was over there. I had to learn to book flights and train tickets on my own. I had to learn how to manage my money. Overall, I had to learn to rely on myself for a lot of things, which is something you can’t learn in a classroom.”
If there was one phrase that was a common thread at the fair it was, “Go!”
“I can’t recommend study abroad enough,” Shymanski said. “I was so hesitant about it because I didn’t want to miss a semester of college. I love Creighton and didn’t want to give up any time I have here, but I’m so thankful I took the leap and left the bubble for a bit. There’s just so much out there to see and so many bigger things out there to become a part of.”