by Virginia O'Connor | Jun 24, 2026 | Australia and Oceania, Personal Growth
by Jordan Shellow (UC Berkeley), studied abroad in Sydney, Australia To all my past selves, I want to start with you, 5-year-old me. Remember wandering through the mini LEGO cities at LEGOLand? You saw the Sydney Opera House and instantly thought, “Wow, I need...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
