Best Experience In My Life So Far

I never planned on studying abroad. It just wasn’t something I thought was for me. But one of my professors kept bringing up the FYGO Sevilla program in class that she was part of the team that ran it and eventually I thought, why not? Maybe I should give life a chance and see what’s out there.

And no, I didn’t go abroad to “find myself.” I went because I felt stuck. Like I was living in between who I was and who I wanted to do. I chose Sevilla because it felt far enough to feel some type of cultural shock, but close enough to still feel familiar. I didn’t expect it to change me the way it did.

From the start, I noticed I was one of the only ethnic students in my program. It wasn’t super obvious, but it showed up in the way people bonded over how they been to Spain before with their family, or how I had to explain my family’s migration story like it was something exotic. I felt invisible sometimes and it was hard to make friends at first. But Sevilla held me anyway. The city felt like a place where i can be a whole new person and paint myself a new picture.

One of the best parts of my experience was my art and architecture class with Laura Tinajero. She’s a certified tour guide and a grad student in Women’s History, so she knew everything about Sevilla. She’d talk about women in leadership and call them “lady bosses,” which I loved. She made us feel comfortable asking questions and engaging and thats where I stared to feel myself adjusting to my new environment and to be proud. I still think about that class all the time.

I traveled solo a lot to near by touristic cities in Andalusia like Granada, Málaga, Tarifa, and Cádiz. I got lost more than once, google map sucks when you are in a maze like city. I would cried in my room because I missed my dog. But I also go out and dance with local college students from the University of Sevilla. I would shared stories over how much I dislike iberico ham with old ladies at the bus stop, and learned how to be alone without feeling lonely. Those moments taught me more than any textbook ever could.

A little fun fact: Morocco is a one hour boat ride from Spain so GO RIDE A CAMEL!! It was so fun SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT

Studying abroad in Sevilla pushed me to stop relying on others so much. It was hard at first especially when most people already knew each other but I had to find the courage to do things solo.

CEA CAPA made this possible.

I always tell people anyone can study abroad. It’s not just for upperclassmen or students whose families take summer vacations and want an excuse to travel again. I want people in my community to know there’s support out there financial aid, resources, and especially the CEA CAPA scholarship program. I want to be that person who stands out and shows others that it’s okay to take up space, even when it feels unfamiliar.

If you’re thinking about studying abroad and you’re not sure you’ll fit in, go anyway!