The Study Abroad Office (SAO) has started a new program that will provide students interested in studying abroad with peer mentors who can help them prepare for the trip. According to Sabina Post, director of study abroad, the SAO started this program in response to student feedback.
“A lot of people indicated that they wanted to have more interaction with study abroad alumni,” Post said.
Many students also expressed interest in working at the study abroad office, and this provides them an opportunity to do so. Post believes it will be easier for students to connect with their peers. She stated that the goals of the program are to promote and increase exposure for study abroad programs and to allow more feedback from students and involvement in programs, to give the study abroad program actual student representatives and “put a face to it” and to increase availability of programs.
This is the first year for the program, and there is not a formal process in place for selecting peer mentors. Students who expressed interest in working for the study abroad office were interviewed, and Post chose 10 individuals to serve as peer mentors. In the future, she plans on implementing a more official application process if more students express interest in working as peer mentors. She aims to cover a wide range of programs in different locations for varied durations in order to make the program applicable to students interested in several different types of experiences.
Post believes that it is important for students to know it is possible to study abroad, and she strives to “break the myths” surrounding the programs. Many students “think they don’t have the time or the money … that it’s not possible,” she said. “It’s important to know they can study abroad.”
The peer mentors, most of whom are seniors, have been to many different locations, from Xalapa, Mexico to Chennai, India. They have a variety of majors from the humanities to the sciences. They have stayed with host families, in cities and even on a remote island on Bocas del Toro, Panama. Some worked internships, while others took advantage of the opportunity to travel to other countries in Europe. Several of them are majoring in a foreign language and were able to practice speaking the language with local inhabitants. All of them agree that studying abroad is a life-changing experience well worth having.
According to Haley Kearns, a senior environmental science major who traveled to Panama during the spring semester of her sophomore year, studying abroad “opens you up to a bigger culture and different lifestyles. It gives you the chance to … try new things.”
Senior Spanish major Justin Ahmad had this advice for students thinking of studying abroad: “I’m sure you may be worried, but just go. Every single person I’ve met who hasn’t studied abroad has told me the same thing: they regret not going. I guarantee that you will regret not going more than you could ever regret going.”
Senior Sociology-Anthropology major Tamara Eichelberger believes “studying abroad really is a life-changing opportunity that I would encourage all students to try. There is no better time to do so than during your time at Etown.”
Junior biology major Gates Failing is looking forward “to assisting students at every step of the preparation process, from the initial program consideration to departure preparation,” he said. “Going to The Gambia was an unforgettable opportunity for me, and I am excited to help others achieve a similar outcome through studying abroad in their dream country.”
The study abroad office is open during normal business hours for students to learn more about the various study abroad programs offered, but if they want to talk to a peer mentor, mentors will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday; and noon to 3 p.m. Friday.