Education Abroad
Karina's rewarding and life-changing decision
Karina Salcedo, Business Major - TRIO Student
Spring 2019, Universidad de León, Spain
Studying abroad taught me more than I could have imagined.
As a first-generation, low-income student, the idea of traveling and studying abroad seemed almost impossible. My parents were aware of my dream; however, for them it was unattainable. Not only because they could not support me financially but also because they did not understand how it was a unique opportunity.
Making the decision to study abroad in León, Spain during the Spring 2019 has been the most rewarding and life-changing decision of my life. The idea of going abroad was terrifying. I was scared to leave my family and friends behind while transitioning to a new place.
Studying abroad does not necessarily mean learning inside a classroom in a different country. For me, it was getting out of my comfort zone and learning from what surrounded me. It changed my view towards life. It taught me to live in the moment.
During my stay, I had the amazing opportunity to visit 29 cities within 10 countries. Everyday I was meeting people from different parts of the world, experiencing adventures, and learning new things. Studying abroad helped me learn more about myself. Words cannot fully describe the amazing time I spent abroad.
