Throughout this spring semester, we’re going to have some guest bloggers write posts about their experiences! This week’s guest blogger is Isabelle Wyerman (left), a junior at Virginia Tech from Falls Church, Virginia. Isabelle is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. Last fall, she studied abroad in Switzerland with the European Affairs in a Global Context program. Here's a glimpse into her study abroad experience:
Studying abroad can be one of the most terrifying and exciting things you do in college. Picking up and leaving your friends and family to fly an ocean away takes extreme courage and determination to further your learning. I had only been out of the U.S. briefly before I got on the plane to study abroad in Switzerland for 4 months. This became one of the best decisions I made in my college career because it offered me experiences that shifted my perspective and allowed me to formulate new and unique opinions about the world.
My perspective when arriving in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland was probably similar to many other Political Science majors at Virginia Tech. It often was hard for me to distinguish between a professor’s opinion and unbiased information. Study abroad completely changed this for me. While traveling to Geneva, Switzerland, my peers and I had the opportunity to have a discussion with several United Nations officials in many different organizations. These conversations allowed me to grasp the European immigration crisis, the importance of human rights, and understanding climate change from a U.N. perspective. These conversations were unique and impactful experiences. I began to think more about my own opinions and thoughts on issues. I questioned my future career path and the multitude of options and opportunities I had within the field of political science. I began to notice a change in the way I understood contentious issues, finding that, although I could be confident in my opinion, it was my responsibility to listen to others.
As I began to understand the many different perspectives of the incredibly complex U.N. organizations, I found a new confidence in the classroom. Surrounded by a meaningful and supportive community, I began articulating my opinions to the class. Speaking up in class is something that always worried me, especially in larger classrooms. But at the Steger Center, whenever I spoke, my classmates and my professors made me feel that what I had to say was important. The conversations that resulted had involvement from nearly everyone in the class, and were insightful. When abroad, in a small community like the Steger Center, it is nearly impossible to find someone that isn’t encouraging and supportive. The community is built on trust and respect for what other people have to say. Because of this, the community the Steger Center fosters is unlike any other at Virginia Tech.
I learned more in my four months with the European Affairs in a Global Context program than I ever thought possible. I learned things that really mattered to me as an individual. The program and the amazing professors helped me look forward to the future as I begin to understand my career path and interests. For me, this experience abroad was truly invaluable.
