Studying abroad is a rare opportunity most people aren’t able to experience in life. It opens students up to different cultures and ways of life. Thankfully, University Academy students are given the chance to enjoy this experience.
Study abroad and summer program opportunities are sponsored by University Academy Foundation. UAF is an organization that supports UA students and alumni in many ways, including through scholarships for participating in summertime learning experiences.
Students are able to participate in these summer programs during the summer following their sophomore or junior year. In order to be eligible, students must have a 3.0 GPA their sophomore year or a 2.5 GPA their junior year.
There are three different program options available: Student Diplomacy Corps, Experiment in International Living and National Outdoor Leadership School.
EIL and SDC are similar in how they operate, and these are the programs that come to mind when students think about traveling and studying abroad. Travel can be domestic or international, with the international programs including a home stay with a host family and the domestic programs providing a chance to earn college credit. Most programs span from three to five weeks long.
Seven students participated in international EIL and SDC programs this past summer, going to Spain, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Mexico. While four others participated in the domestic programs going to Alaska and Massachusetts.
NOLS, on the other hand, is a special program due to the fact that it is wilderness-based. This program requires students to go camping and learn to live in the wilderness—off the grid and away from digital devices. Most NOLS programs are about five weeks long.
Over this past summer, UA had two students participate in NOLS. Their programs took place in Canada and Wyoming.
UA junior Brooke Williams participated in an SDC program based in Italy. Williams enjoyed immersing herself in Italian culture while trying new cuisines and seeing the way of life from a different point of view.
She said, “Some new experiences that shaped me were living with my host family. Inserting yourself into a family and seeing their struggles, which technically count as your struggles, is just a different view, and it makes you realize that it’s never just you.”
Senior Jamin Wilson had some great experiences, as well, when he journeyed to Japan. One of his favorite memories was when he and his group visited the Kyoto Tower. Wilson also mentioned that the program did require a lot of walking.
Here is some advice Williams and Wilson had to offer to future adventurers.
Williams said, “Advice I would give a future [SDC] diplomat is to take risks! Don’t be afraid. Stay safe, but do not be afraid. Your trip is based on you.”
Wilson also had some wisdom to share.
He said, “Go out, talk to people and have fun while you can because you are going to miss it when you get back.”
For anyone interested in participating in a summer program, plan to attend the mandatory meeting coming up this winter. Stay on the lookout for further info from Mr. Josh Burdette and Ms. Tamra Gibson, who will post flyers around the school and make announcements when that time approaches.
