Oh the places you will go

Enhancing the values of their college degrees, breaking out of their normal academic routines and traveling to places they never thought they’d experience, more than ever University of West Florida students are taking advantage of the UWF Study Abroad Program. This spring, 27 students are studying abroad. From the Netherlands to Japan to Switzerland, UWF students have stepped out of their comfort zones to expand their education and learn a little bit more about themselves along the way.

“The biggest benefit of studying abroad is putting yourself in an unfamiliar environment and culture then growing as a person from the experience,” said William Straley, senior finance major who studied abroad in Japan last fall. “Besides the improvement in my Japanese speaking ability, some of my biggest rewards are the friendships I made and the people I met from all over the world.”

Like Straley who studied in Japan, Joshua Curry, junior majoring in international studies, is also finding himself in a similar situation. Spending the year studying abroad in Japan, Curry has found many opportunities to travel and adjust to the culture. He feels that studying abroad has truly been a life changing experience.

“I love Japan,” said Curry. “I came with the thinking that I would like Japan, but it’s far more than I thought. I have recently been working on the paperwork to extend my stay even longer since I do want to stay and eventually work here. It’s everything I dreamed for and more.”

The UWF International Center has continued to see growth and an increase in participation from UWF students and administers more than 20 study abroad programs primarily for undergraduate students. The International Center provides students with the opportunity to set up one-on-one meetings to find out about programs, scholarships and how to find the best experience for their majors.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see that more UWF students are taking advantage of the opportunities that they have to study abroad,” said Sara Brake, Study Abroad Program coordinator. “We want to give students the chance to experience other cultures, languages and be able to enhance their education.”

The Study Abroad Program offers many opportunities to earn academic credit while at partner institutions around the world. This spring, UWF students are studying in Austria, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Several students including Straley and Curry, are sharing their experiences through blogs at uwf.edu/intered/studyabroad.

To find out more, visit the UWF Study Abroad Program Web site or contact Brake at (850) 474-2479 or e-mail sbrake@uwf.edu.

Written by Megan Tyson, University Marketing Communications