Is a semester away worth leaving family, friends, and routines? Alumni from the programs School Year Abroad (SYA) and the School for Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) say the programs can be transformative, but not without challenges.
Junior Clara Codsi, who studied with SYA in France, believes study abroad helped shape her view of the world.
“I feel like it’s a really good way to get more perspectives,” Codsi said. “And have this experience of understanding yourself, and becoming independent.”
Despite enjoying her semester abroad, Codsi said the beginning was difficult.
“The first few weeks [are] really hard because you kind of feel lost,” Codsi said. “You don’t understand the language, you don’t know your routine, you don’t know how to get to school.”
For Owen Dombrowski, a SEGL and UPrep alumnus who now attends the University of Washington, his experience was very different. SEGL is known for having a very intense curriculum and challenging its students.
“I’m a sophomore in college now, and I still have never had an assignment that was as complex,” Dombrowski said.
Dombrowski, who attended the SEGL campus in DC, faced challenges outside of the curriculum as well.
“I felt sort of alone with my background,” Dombrowski said. “Almost everyone else was part of what seemed like a tight network of prep schools in the Northeast.”
Dombrowski urges students to consider how far they are willing to push themselves in order to attend SEGL.
“Ask yourself how comfortable you are with being uncomfortable,” Dombrowski said. “SEGL will challenge your character and leadership more than anything you’ve done before.”
While Dombrowski believes students should be cautious with their choice, Codsi encourages students to take the leap.
“I feel like, if you’re on the fence, honestly, you should just do it, because what’s the worst that’s gonna happen?” Codsi said.
