Personal Growth Archives - UCEAP News and Features

Grappling with Studying Abroad in Asia as a Chinese American

by Jennifer Monroe | Jun 1, 2026 | Asia, Home Feature, Personal Growth, UCLA

By Emily Hsi (UC Los Angeles) studied abroad at the National University of Singapore. When I first decided to study abroad, all I knew was that I wanted to be in Asia. As a Chinese American born and raised in California, I had my fair share of identity crises. I was...

How I Showed Up as a Black American Student in Japan

by Virginia O'Connor | Jun 1, 2026 | Asia, Home Feature, Personal Growth, UC Berkeley

By Denmark Harris (UC Berkeley) studied abroad in Kyoto, Japan I was excited to study abroad in Japan—but I was also afraid. As a person of color, I knew I was heading to a country where the vast majority of people wouldn’t look like me. My biggest goal was to build...

All the Ways Study Abroad Tests and Strengthens Your Identity

by Jennifer Monroe | Apr 20, 2026 | Personal Growth, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, UCLA

Contributors: Keren Dror (UC Los Angeles), Annika Jorgensen (UC Berkeley), and Mercedes Lefiti (UC Santa Cruz) We all pack certain things for study abroad: maybe a favorite snack, a photo, a childhood stuffie to remind us of home. Each of us also carries something...

5 Steps to Break the Comfort Zone Trap and Adopt a Study Abroad Mindset

by Virginia O'Connor | Apr 20, 2026 | Personal Growth, UC Berkeley

By Monique Evdokiou (UC Berkeley), studied abroad in Rome, Italy Prior to starting my study abroad experience, I felt confident that I was more than prepared. To get ready for the experience, I had a group of friends that I already knew attending the program. I was...

How Embracing Uncertainty Led to My Greatest Adventure

by Virginia O'Connor | Apr 20, 2026 | Europe, Personal Growth, UC Irvine

By Valerie Elizabeth Cruz (UC Irvine) studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland Like many first-generation college students, I started my journey at UC Irvine with a desperate need for a concrete plan. I had no idea what my undergraduate career would manifest, and as a...

Make It Last: 5 Creative Ways Students Documented Their Time Abroad

by Jennifer Monroe | Mar 31, 2026 | Australia and Oceania, Europe, Personal Growth, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC San Diego

Contributors: Annika Sundberg (UC Berkeley), Chloe Margulis (UC San Diego), Corra Nordheim (UC San Diego), Jolene Marie Ku (UC Davis), Leanna Chin (UC San Diego), 2024 blog writing contestants You’ll take thousands of photos during your study abroad...

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Study Abroad Program: Lund University, Sweden
Program Location: Lund, Sweden
Other Countries Visited: Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria,
Hungary, and Norway
Home University: UC Berkeley
Major: Bioengineering
Year: Junior (Graduating Spring 2017)

Alison Long is a rising senior studying tissue engineering and drug delivery at UC Berkeley. She loves spending time outdoors, hiking, biking and playing soccer. As a nature enthusiast, her travels involved exploring national parks and canvassing tulip festivals around Europe. In her free time, Alison enjoys painting and watching cooking competitions on the Food Network.

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