When I made the decision to come to Purdue, I wasn’t sure where my time would take me – I only knew that I had two goals: 1) Complete a study abroad 2) Become fluent in Spanish. After three great years full of discovering my passion for environmentalism and pursuing exciting extracurriculars, I realized my time was coming to an end and my desire to study abroad was still strong. I made the very untraditional decision to study abroad in Spain for the fall semester of my senior year. Despite accomplishing this long-awaited dream, I found myself terrified to head out on this adventure.

In Spain I was thrown right into life abroad and the language transition that came with it. I lived with a host family which allowed me to advance my language skills and learn so much more about Spanish culture than I ever could have alone. This experience forced me out of my comfort zone and ensured I was always surrounded by the native language.

One unique aspect of my experience was that my classes were taken at a study abroad center in Seville rather than with other Spanish college students. I was able to learn much about Spanish while also meeting other Americans and surprisingly, even more about American culture that I didn’t experience back home. I took several classes related to Spanish history, language, cuisine, literature, and film, all of which were taught by locals fully in Spanish. These classes allowed me to not only learn so much more about the country but also advance my vocabulary in areas I would never be able to in regular conversation or my classes at Purdue.

One of the most impactful parts of my time in Spain was volunteering as an English teacher for middle schoolers. I learned how to explain a language to someone with little to no background in English and relate cultural differences. There was so much more to learn about Spain from a child’s point of view, not only about Spain but their perspective of American culture.

While my time in Spain was focused on improving my Spanish-speaking abilities, I also had the opportunity to talk to a local about environmentalism and its current state in Spain. I learned there is a movement towards sustainability and environmental solutions but a huge need for bilingual workers. These conversations opened me up to the idea of working abroad in the future and using my language skills to improve the state of the planet. I found that my Spanish major could complement my Environmental Engineering major in ways I didn’t anticipate, and there were numerous opportunities to make a difference outside of the United States.  

While I worried about the idea of international studies in my final year of college, I discovered it’s never too late to meet your goals and that the pursuit of those goals can lead you to your strengths, passions, and future goals. I highly encourage pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone and making the time to study abroad. It can be one of the most transformative times in your college career.

Written by: Miranda Stickel, EEE Class of 2024