Customize Your Weekly Pathways Content If you had asked me this time last year about how my first semester of college was going,
I probably would’ve told you that it was going well and my classes were great. But that would
have only been somewhat true. Like many, my first semester of college was rough. I struggled to
put myself out there, go to clubs, and make friends that extended beyond the classroom. I was
homesick and longed for the easy friendships I had in high school. It was rough, and being over
300 miles from home didn’t help.
I probably would’ve told you that it was going well and my classes were great. But that would
have only been somewhat true. Like many, my first semester of college was rough. I struggled to
put myself out there, go to clubs, and make friends that extended beyond the classroom. I was
homesick and longed for the easy friendships I had in high school. It was rough, and being over
300 miles from home didn’t help.
But as winter break approached, I was looking through my weekly email from the SBS
Pathways Center one day when I spotted an opportunity that piqued my interest. A two-week
long study abroad program in Chile, focused on Human Rights & Governance in Latin America.
I was immediately intrigued. Having studied Spanish in school for ten years, I was eager to put
what I’d learned into practice, and as a Political Science major, I was interested to learn
specifically about Latin America. I knew traveling to Chile was a special opportunity, and so
almost on a whim, I decided to apply.
And I’m so glad that I did! After spring semester had ended, I was exhausted and
disappointed in myself with how my first year at college had gone. I was dreading going back in
the fall. But after studying abroad in Chile, I couldn’t wait.
Most of our time in Chile was spent in Valparaíso, a beautiful city that sat atop a
mountainside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. My group of eleven or so other students and I
would attend a lecture by a local professor in the morning, explore the city for lunch, and
oftentimes go on a field trip in the afternoon. Our afternoon trips included visiting
Nobel-Prize-winning-poet Pablo Neruda’s house on Isla Negra, meeting with a local human
rights organization, and visiting the National Congress building where we got to see the Chilean
legislature in action.
My time in Chile was immensely impactful on my wellbeing. Academically, it nourished
my interests in politics, human rights, Latin America, and the Spanish language, and made me
excited for my next semester of classes at UMass. But more significantly, studying abroad in
Chile helped me massively increase my self confidence, and therefore my social life. During my
trip, every meal and moment of free time was spent with a group of my peers, so close
friendships formed quickly. We talked about everything, taught each other how to order food in
Spanish, stumbled around the city together, and encouraged each other as we climbed the endless
stairs and hills that make up Valparaíso. There were so many heartfelt conversations and
laughter, and it was an amazing two weeks of my life.
my interests in politics, human rights, Latin America, and the Spanish language, and made me
excited for my next semester of classes at UMass. But more significantly, studying abroad in
Chile helped me massively increase my self confidence, and therefore my social life. During my
trip, every meal and moment of free time was spent with a group of my peers, so close
friendships formed quickly. We talked about everything, taught each other how to order food in
Spanish, stumbled around the city together, and encouraged each other as we climbed the endless
stairs and hills that make up Valparaíso. There were so many heartfelt conversations and
laughter, and it was an amazing two weeks of my life.
After my study abroad trip, I returned to UMass this fall with a renewed sense of
confidence. Chile gave me a mini fresh start, allowing me to come into my sophomore year with
new, strong friendships, as well as with the self-confidence that I could make more. And so far
this semester, I’ve done just that– I’ve been more assertive in making friends, including reaching
out to people in my classes and inviting them to get lunch or study with me.
While not everyone’s solution to a rough freshman year may be studying abroad– by
putting myself in an unfamiliar environment and trusting that the pieces will eventually fall into
place, I was able to build confidence and find true friends. And it was scary, but today I’m a
much better (and happier) person because of it.
