As the Spring 2022 semester comes to a close, we are celebrating our seniors who have studied abroad or away and our senior student workers!
Brianna Boston will be graduating with a Psychology major and African American studies minor. She studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina on a Faculty-Led Program during Minimester 2020, and served as a Peer Advisor upon return. Her favorite memory was visiting Tigre and bonding with her classmates while out to eat. No one in her group knew each other at the start of their journey, but by the end there were many lifelong friendships made.
“If you can, take the opportunity to study abroad! It is extremely life changing and such a rare thing to accomplish these days. Also, do not let anything or anyone discourage you from going. My experience had a positive effect on my growth and who I am today.”
Upon graduating, Brianna will be a Community Outreach Coordinator at the University of Maryland’s Pediatric Center and will continue to work on the non profit she established herself.
Grace Hoggarth will be graduating with a double major in Public Relations and French. During her time with the Study Abroad & Away Office she served as the Exchange Intern and a Peer Advisor to exchange, international, and domestic students. Her highlights of working with the office include helping encourage students to step out of their comfort zone and getting them excited about experiencing new cultures, whether internationally or domestically, and planning fun events for the students.
This semester Grace received the French Writing Award through the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department.
Though Grace didn’t have the opportunity to study abroad during her undergraduate experience, she hopes to apply her 15 years of French speaking by eventually working abroad with TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program in France).
Upon graduating, Grace will be a Digital Communications Associate with a local advertising and public relations agency.
Sydney Waters is a former Peer Advisor with the Study Abroad & Away Office, and studied abroad in Granada, Spain during Spring 2020. She is graduating as a Communication Studies major and, Spanish minor.
Sydney’s favorite memory from studying abroad was one of the group trips she took with AIFS. Her group went to a variety of attractions, but to Sydney, Sevilla was the best. She was able to bond and spend time with people she hadn’t encountered regularly at her school abroad.
Her advice to anyone wanting to study abroad is make the best of it and live the fullest during your study abroad it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Make sure to stay on your work but also explore and have fun !
Recently, Sydney was chosen as one out of five people for the outstanding seniors and communication studies for the spring 2022 semester. After graduation she will be continuing to nanny and work with her internship at FEA, as well as running her candle business.
Annieka Attah is graduating as a double major in Psychology and Sociology-Anthropology with a minor in Family Studies. During the Fall 2021 semester she studied at Widener university on the National Student Exchange program.
Her favorite memory while studying away was meeting her roommates and having monthly roomies date. They ventured to the Philly area for thrift shopping, Philly cheesesteaks, and to the Insomnia Cookie lab.
Annieka’s advice to current TU students considering studying away is to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
“You eventually will find a community to bring you comfort but initially you have to endure the discomfort of applying and pursuing a new opportunity which is expected. If you plan to move to another area or country after graduation, doing the study abroad/away program is a great way to get more clarity on your moving situation, while having a safety net.”
After graduation, Annieka plans to become a kindergarten teacher and a licensed massage therapist.
Kierra Perry is graduating with a double major in Sociology-Anthropology and Foreign Languages with concentrations in Anthropology and French. During Spring semester 2022 she studied at Sonoma State University in California.
Her favorite memory would have to be going to Target with other exchange students at the university.
“It sounds very mundane, but I learned so much about how people in other countries do things as simple as grocery shopping — my world got a little wider. There were two students from France and another from Canada, and we spent about 3 hours just going around and looking at everything. We talked the whole trip!”
Kierra’s advice would be to make sure you’re aware of what the transportation is like in the area you’re studying in. If you won’t have a car with you, it helps to know what’s within walking/bus distance. It also helps you manage your expectations of where you can visit so that you can plan and make the most of your trip.
This year Kierra received the Distinguished Academic Excellence Award in French as well as the Most Distinguished Scholar in Anthropology awards. After graduation, Kierra will be participating in the Teaching Assistant Program in France, where she will be living and working in France from October to May as a primary school English teaching assistant.