Has school put a grinding halt on your entire plan to travel around the world? Or have you been waiting to save enough money to eventually do so? Apparently you haven’t heard about studying abroad and what it means to you.
“San Diego City College offers students the opportunity to study in different countries around the world in order to develop global competencies and to increase cultural awareness, while making progress towards completion of academic goals” says Marion
Froehlich, International Education Coordinator at San Diego City College.
Froehlich encourages students to take part in the Study Abroad program that has taken students around the world. Past programs have included visits to Argentina, Costa Rica, Italy, Spain, France and the United Kingdom. Each program focuses its classes on the countries they are visiting, which makes them somehow appropriate for each student learning the respective countries culture history, art and music.
“I was really blessed to study abroad in Paris. It is an experience that I will never forget and it has inspired me to go abroad again,” says Stacy Calderon, who had an opportunity to study abroad in Paris, France. “You learn a lot about yourself when you are living in another country.”
Calderon stayed in an apartment shared by two other students in Paris, taking classes four times a week while enjoying a three-day weekend. While in Paris, Calderon took tours to Versailles and Loire Valley, as well as visiting museums and famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, which Calderon says was a highlight of her stay in Paris.
Froehlich says that students like Calderon are able to explore history and art in the environment where it was created, explaining that they don’t expect students to be completely fascinated or enthralled by certain aspects of the program, but it will build an appreciation for the subject, be it art, music or even architecture. Having already seen many students come back from the program with newly found maturity and self-confidence, Froehlich expresses her satisfaction with what the program has offered and what it has to offer to students.
“I don’t have enough money but I would love to study abroad,” says City College Student Lizbeth Ortiz, who has considered studying abroad but has been skeptical about whether she would be able to afford it or not. Like Ortiz, many students on campus share the same feeling when it comes to participating in the program, with money being the biggest obstacle.
Froehlich was quick to point out that students like Ortiz should take advantage of the several financial opportunities available, like the Benjamin A. Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship or the Federal Pell Grants.”
San Diego City College had five Gilman scholars the last semester including Stacy Calderon. “They love community colleges!” says Froehlich. The scholarship is sponsored by the Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Scholars are awarded from $3,000 and up to $5,000. Froehlich adds that 1-in-3 applicants receive a scholarship each semester, making the odds very favorable.
Requirements to participate in the program are a 2.0 grade point average and a completion of 12 college level units at the end of the semester prior to departure. Students who fulfill these requirements are welcome to apply.
Upcoming Study Abroad programs include a four-week summer course in Cuernavaca, Mexico as well as ten-week course in Buenos Aires, Argentina and a fall courses include programs in London and Barcelona.
For those interested in participating in the Study Abroad program, information is available at www.sdcity.edu/studyabroad or for additional information contact Marion Froehlich at [email protected].
Deadline for the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship is April 4.
