ucb

<p>Three UC students share heartfelt advice on navigating family concerns about study abroad, especially for first-generation and Hispanic students. Drawing from personal experience, they offer a step-by-step guide to transform parental worry into support, emphasizing how thoughtful planning and open communication can help students pursue their dreams while honoring family bonds.</p>

<p>How will you record the once-in-a-lifetime journey that is study abroad? Alex Masci (UC Berkeley) decided to rely on an a familiar technique: journaling, and in the process discovered how writing helped her achieve personal growth. Each entry is a testament to the power of journaling, capturing the most exciting moments and those subtle moments of growth and reflection all in the pages of a journal.</p>

<p>Imagine wearing an invisible backpack filled with a random number of rocks each morning - this is how Kaitlyn McWalters (UC Berkeley) describes living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Despite the daily challenges of managing a chronic illness, she chose to pursue her dream of studying in Japan. Her story offers practical insights and inspiration for students who wonder if their health conditions might prevent them from going abroad.</p>

<p>As a first-generation student who immigrated from South Korea, (UC Berkeley) Youngseong Ryu's semester in Berlin marked more than just a study abroad experience—it was a milestone in personal growth. Through Berlin's stunning architecture, rich artistic culture, and complex history, he discovered new perspectives that would shape his future as an art educator.</p>

<p>Journey through Florence, Rome, and Barcelona as Yvonne Liu (UC Berkeley) shares all the ways that Mediterranean cuisine and culture intersect to create transformative study abroad moments that reinforce tradition, connection, and discovery.</p>

<p>Join three UC Berkeley students as they reveal how they made study abroad affordable - from navigating Singapore's expensive city life to stretching financial aid across two semesters in Europe. Their practical guide covers everything from choosing the right program and finding affordable housing to managing daily expenses abroad.</p>

<p>Trey Timberlake (UC Berkeley), a gay man from Palm Springs, California, challenged his childhood feelings of isolation and otherness as well as his fear of masculinity while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. See why Trey describes study abroad as the most transformative experience of his life.</p>

<p>If you're a shy, introverted person, could you travel almost 6,000 miles away from home to study abroad on your own? Francesca Casimiro (UC Berkeley) did and you can too. Read her story and learn how you can too.</p>

<p>Gigi Engalla (UC Berkeley) asked a well-traveled stranger for advice on the American study abroad experience and received a prophetic response. The lessons she learned about culture, politics and society on four months in Paris lead to unexpected self-discovery.</p>

<p>Wonder what it's like to study abroad in southern Chile? Check out Phoebe Goulden's (UC Berkeley) tips for home stay families, food, and where to study in this guide to Villarrica, Chile.</p>