Anticipatory boosts, or having something to look forward to, are proven to benefit your mental health in the present. We learned this on a massive scale when life droned on during the pandemic, and I reaped these benefits personally when I said yes to the opportunity to intern abroad through UFV International.
Being a full-time student, working, and attempting to have a social life somehow became more manageable with the knowledge that in just a few months, I’d be boarding a plane to a warmer, sunnier place.
However, preparing for a summer abroad is no small feat. The learning that took place before my departure felt like a crash course in basic necessities. I had to establish my wants and needs, advocate for myself, and take on the responsibility of preparing myself as a visitor in a new country.
Before I began my time abroad, my head was filled with what-ifs and all I could see were the barriers. Would I receive credits? Where would I get the money? How would I manage without knowing the language?! I just can’t take the time off work! What about my partner? Each reason was its own seemingly insurmountable feat.
“It is a fact that no one has regretted studying abroad,” said Study Abroad Coordinator Aakash Dean. Anyone may have their reservations, miss their loved ones, or experience culture shock; but, opportunities to travel, work, or study in a new country do not come around often for most people.
Coordinator Cathy McCarthy loves to see students take chances and embrace something new. “It is something that will stay with you your whole life.”
From the connections UFV has in getting their students abroad safely, the access to scholarship funding, and the degree of work experience I will leave Colombia with, being abroad has been full of so many wonderful surprises. I am working with one of the biggest social service organizations in the province of Antioquia, learning Spanish, and meeting other students from all over the world who have been given similar opportunities by their universities.
“I hope all UFV students will consider embarking on this transformative journey,” said Walter Foreman, the associate director of international relations at UFV International. “You will immerse yourself in new cultures and diverse ways of life outside Canada. Your time overseas will help you become a more well-rounded individual as you acquire valuable skills and experiences.”
I think the most important thing for domestic UFV students to know is that travelling abroad doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. You do not have to wait until your post-secondary education is over. If anything, going abroad now will positively impact how you remember your time in university, keep you sane while you study, and open your mind beyond what you can learn in the classroom. UFV is a small but abundant university, and the opportunities are there if you take them.
All the best from the city of eternal spring.
Kiara Okonkwo is a writer and creative. She received a diploma in Screenwriting from Vancouver Film School and is pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Media and Communication Studies. Kiara values self-expression and authenticity.