Why did you decide to study abroad with Globalinks at UQ?
Isabella: I decided to study abroad with Globalinks because my school's (The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC) study abroad program only offered a limited number of universities to study abroad at in Australia. I found Globalinks through my abroad advisor and applied to their program. I wasn't really sure where in Australia I wanted to study, but I looked at schools like Bond, University of NewCastle, ect. But then I found the University of Queensland, and it was perfect. It was just close enough to Brisbane, the most beautiful city I have ever lived in, but just far enough to have its own peaceful atmosphere.
I could not have asked for a better University to attend while abroad. Because my school in the states is more conservative, the University of Queensland was an amazing experience for me. Its student body of 44,000 students, 3,000 of those being students studying abroad, make up an incredible group of students that have the desire to learn. Every single student I met at UQ had a different story, different goals, and taught me something about myself that I never really knew.
The academics in Australia are very different than most schools here. Having one tutorial and one lecture per week, with almost 300 people in every lecture and up to 40 people in some tutorials. As a student that works well with the personal connection that I have with teachers, it was hard to completely change my learning habits. I had to take more time to study the notes I took in class, to meet with my tutorial teachers individually (many of whom were grad students), and be more responsible in my academics.
The only downfall of my entire experience was that I did not have that personal connection with my teachers that I can have at my (much) smaller school in Washington, DC. Having to email three different professors just to get an answer was tough, but it is definitely good to learn in a different environment and in a different way to really understand what kind of student you are.
What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Isabella: Everything at UQ was incredible. The wednesday markets and the different student organizations on campus that held events and booths daily to help raise awareness and action always made uni life interesting. Being a rugby player from the states, I joined the University of Queensland Women's Rugby Team. It was the best decision that I made while I was abroad. All of the women were incredible athletes and friends. They taught me so much about rugby, being part of a team, loving myself, and becoming a better athlete and friend. Having the ability to play rugby in a country where it is so celebrated is an honor, and life doesn't get much better than doing something you love with people who enjoy it just as much.
Rugby was definitely one of the things that made my study abroad experience unique. That opportunity was incredible and, to this day, one of the best decisions I have ever made. Along with rugby, Globalinks and their orientation week definitely made my study abroad experience better.
For a week before I got to Brisbane, me and the other students in the program spent a week in Cairns. Probably one of the most exciting weeks of my life. It was filled with new adventures and new friends. Friends that I kept throughout my entire time in Australia. It was amazing to have friends around Australia after only being in the country for a week, but what was even more amazing was that there was some kind of connection, some kind of togetherness that we all felt from experiencing our first days together in Australia.
So we got the chance to visit each other on our breaks from uni and talked all the time. And now I have best friends from all around the United States that studied abroad in Australia the same time I did, two of which I am planning on meeting up with this coming summer. I think that Oz just captures you, changes your outlook on life, makes every single part of you better, then gives you back a completely new person with an extraordinary view on life.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Isabella: So many parts of my abroad experience changed the person that I am. I learned how to adapt to different teaching styles, understand myself, live more responsibly, meet new people and get the most out of life. Every single time I have an interview with a new internship opportunity, Australia is the first thing I bring up. I talk about the classes I took, the experiences I had, and what Australia really gave me; an incredible new love for life. Studying abroad was a long process, there were alot of papers to be filled out, calls to be made, and emails to be sent. It takes a while for everything to fall into place, but once it did, it turned out to be the best decision I had ever made.