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<p>When two UC students, Justine Pendergraft (UC Los Angeles) and Maria Newman (UC Berkeley) arrived for their study abroad programs—one in Berlin, one in Paris—they faced every traveler's worst nightmares within their first 24 hours. These are the unexpected and valuable lessons study abroad teaches you. They each discovered that those dreaded "what if" scenarios from predeparture orientation aren't just warnings—they were opportunities to prove just how resourceful you can be.</p>

<p>When California native, Micah-Rose Hoffman, arrived in in Bordeaux for study abroad, she made a surprising discovery: what should have felt foreign instead felt like coming home. Through language learning, cultural immersion, and daily life in France, this student from UC Los Angeles created a second identity for herself—proving that cultural belonging isn't just inherited, it can be built from scratch. Her story reveals how study abroad can help us find versions of ourselves we never knew existed.</p>

<p>As an introvert who found her stride in Edinburgh's cobblestone streets, Jillian Jimenez (UC Los Angeles) shares how she transformed from a self-described introvert into someone who discovered magic in saying "yes" to unexpected adventures. From finding solitude in hidden bookshops to spontaneous pub nights that led to chance celebrity encounters, she offers practical strategies for introverts to thrive abroad without losing their authentic selves.

<p>UCEAP students who studied abroad for a year share why "more is better" when it comes to international education. Through personal stories of transformation, they reveal how a full year abroad allows you to move beyond being a tourist to becoming a true local - experiencing all four seasons, celebrating cultural traditions, and building lasting international friendships. Their experiences show how a year abroad can transform not just your academic journey, but your entire approach to life.

<p>A UC Los Angeles engineering student shares her journey to master Spanish and connect with her Puerto Rican heritage through study abroad. Despite the challenges of fitting language immersion into a packed STEM schedule, she discovered practical strategies—from living with non-English speakers to consuming Spanish-only media—that helped her achieve fluency in just five months. Her story offers valuable insights for students seeking to maximize their language learning abroad while balancing academic requirements.</p>

<p>A UCLA student shares six compelling reasons why study abroad is an important investment in your future. From taking unique courses in South Korea's tech scene to building global connections, Ingrid Chang reveals how her experience shaped her career path, personal growth, and worldview. Drawing from her own journey, she offers practical insights on maximizing the study abroad experience while addressing common concerns about living overseas.</p>

<p>If you lived in the same town your whole life, would you be excited or terrified by the idea of leaving it all behind to study abroad in another country? Both is probably the correct answer, and Morgan Taylor-Cohen (UC Los Angeles) says you have to embrace abundance to get you through to the other side.</p>

<p>As a student who has accessed accommodations at their home campus, Jenny Lopez (UC Los Angeles) shares critical tips to maintain your mental health, peace and balance throughout the transformative experience of study abroad. Don't let worries stop you from this once-in-a-lifetime experience!</p>

<p>Why study abroad in Australia 8,000 miles from home? Jahnavi Srinivas (UC Los Angeles) shares all the best reasons to study abroad in the land down under.</p>

<p>Anna Nguyen (UC Los Angeles) studied abroad to discover her roots on a quest to become Asian enough. Her journey through Hong Kong and Vietnam, mounds of Chinese food, and hours with the Cantonese language, and finally her own family led her to understand her national and ethnic identity.</p>