Tag Archives: Gender

Imaan Siddiqui

Imaan Siddiqui

MAJOR: Psychology

PROGRAM: FLP – The Cultured Personality, Italy

EMAIL: imaan.siddiqui@sjsu.edu

BIO: I am a psychology major and not only did I want to take the Psychology of Personality course, but I wanted to do so abroad. Studying psychology in another country offered a unique opportunity to gain profound insights into the influence of culture on human behavior, broadened my understanding of global mental health issues, and helped me grow professionally and personally. I also love studying other cultures and what better way to do that than to be there in person and have that full immersive experience! Last but not least, I have always wanted to go to Italy!

LEADER, VOLUNTEER, OR JOB EXPERIENCES: In high school, I was the secretary of the Muslim Student Association, was the mascot of my class, was a part of the National Honors Society, was a Freshman Link officer, and was part of the DEI club. Currently, I am a writing tutor at the Writing Center here at SJSU and am the vice president of the new Sustainability and Climate Innovation Club. I have had lots of opportunities to work and lead students using the knowledge I have acquired through my experiences.

GOALS: Through participating in this program, my goals were to experience personal growth, learn about cross-cultural perspectives and comparative social psychology, as well as global approaches to mental health and applied research opportunities.

ACADEMICS: I took the Psychology of Personality Italy Abroad (FLP) program. I made sure to do all required assignments and keep up with readings to curate context and mindfulness regarding our itinerary. Keeping up with the readings allowed for meaningful discussion among our class and with tourists. Now that I have returned, I feel motivated to do assignments, keeping in mind various perspectives and practicing patience.

This me was visiting the city of Pompeii on a very hot and sunny day!

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: This class gave me exposure to how psychology is understood, practiced, and perceived in different cultures which broadened my horizons and promoted critical thinking about my own culture’s norms. Learning how culture shapes the expression, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions helped me become a more culturally sensitive and competent learner. Identifying which concepts and theories in psychology transcend cultural boundaries and are more specific to certain cultures deepened my understanding of the human mind’s complexities. Observing the dynamics of social groups in a new culture allowed me to compare social behaviors and norms, helping me understand the impact of culture on social interactions. Exploring the differences in how self-identity, social roles, and communication are shaped by collectivistic or individualistic cultures expanded my understanding of human interactions. Understanding how cultural differences can contribute to misunderstandings and learning the skills of intercultural communication is invaluable.

CAREER: Exploring the use of traditional healing practices, complementary therapies, and their integration with Western psychological approaches expanded my knowledge base of the various ways to provide mental healthcare. Learning about different cultural perspectives on resilience and effective coping mechanisms helped identify new ways to support people from diverse backgrounds. Understanding the global disparities in mental health treatment and the cultural stigma attached to mental illness helped me be an advocate for change. Hands-on experience in a cross-cultural setting provided invaluable insights into real-world applications of psychological principles and allowed me to make meaningful contributions.

PERSONAL GROWTH: Living and studying in a new culture challenged my comfort zone, fostered resilience, and encouraged me to be more open to different worldviews. Being immersed in a new environment led to introspection, and taught me more about my own cultural biases and personal values. By gaining a deeper understanding of different cultures, I developed a broader perspective and learned to become a more responsible and empathetic global citizen.

IDENTITIES: As a woman in Italy, you definitely get some lingering stares (not bad just noticeable). I also found myself questioning my own religious and moral beliefs being in a country which has lower drinking ages.

FUTURE: It has allowed me to become more independent and confident in myself. It fostered an environment for me to be able to grow more into myself. It has opened so many opportunities and connections for me! With these connections, I am able to try and learn new skills that are useful in my field.

TIPS: I would advise them to enjoy their experiences and be open to making life-long friends! This is an opportunity of a lifetime. While you travel, take the time to be grateful and open to new experiences. It will make the trip that much more memorable and meaningful.

Ashley Sosa

Ashley Sosa

MAJOR: Biological Sciences/Molecular Biology

PROGRAM: SSA – Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea

EMAIL: ashley.sosa@sjsu.edu

BIO: Hey! My name is Ashley Sosa and I’m a third year majoring in molecular biology. I am both a first-generation college student and a first-generation American. I’ve always had a strong interest in other languages and cultures, which contributed to my desire to study abroad. I wanted to experience life in another country. However, due to my major and other reasons, most semester-long programs weren’t an option for me. I was so happy to find a program in South Korea (a country I already wanted to visit) that worked with my schedule and allowed me to study a language I’m interested in. It was an incredible and highly enlightening experience! I did and saw quite a bit, and yet there’s still so much I would like to go back and do someday.

LEADER, VOLUNTEER, OR JOB EXPERIENCES: I’ve volunteered as a tutor and written for a magazine. At one point I also ran a small online business.

GOALS: One goal I set for myself before studying abroad was to explore as much of Seoul as possible, along with other cities such as Busan. I wanted to learn more about Korean culture and do well in my class. I wanted to make some new friends, but I also wanted to be more comfortable with going out and exploring on my own. Another personal and professional goal I set for myself was to be able to hold a basic conversation in Korean by the end of the summer. I believe I accomplished all of these.

ACADEMICS: I took a beginner Korean language course. There were around 20 students in the class, and the instructor was a native Korean. Most of the grade was based on the final exam. To ensure my academic success I attended all classes on time, participated in class activities and group work, reviewed my notes after most classes, and studied with friends. While studying Korean I noticed some similarities between Korean and Japanese (which I’m currently studying at SJSU). These similarities have helped me make connections between the two languages as well as better remember vocabulary and grammar structures.

At the Namsan Tower

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Through SKKU I was able to participate in various highly insightful cultural activities, including exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace, looking for clams in Incheon, visiting the National Museum of Korea, participating in a K-pop dance class, and attending The Painters show. On my own and with friends, I explored various areas of Seoul and some of Busan. One of my favorite activities we did was going to a noraebang (karaoke) and singing together as a group. I also tried various Korean foods, such as bibimbap, and made an effort to speak Korean whenever I could. Being immersed in Korean culture helped me have a much better understanding of the culture and language overall. One of the things that stood out to me the most and gave me a new perspective was safety in South Korea. There’s obviously still crime and you should still be careful, but it was really interesting to see how people often left their belongings alone at times. I also met students from all over the world, and my fellow classmates helped further broaden my worldview and teach me more about other cultures.

CAREER: One skill I sharpened during the program was respectfully interacting with others and respecting their cultures (both Korean and others). A second skill I strengthened was reaching out to people and making new friends more easily. I interacted with a large number of new people throughout the program, and I soon learned how to quickly introduce myself. This has been very helpful now that a new semester has started, such as when meeting new classmates or reaching out to different graduate schools for more information. I know I will continue to use this in my future career. I also learned how to better adapt to unexpected situations and travel on my own. Time management and finding a balance between studying, hanging out with friends, and exploring the city is yet another skill I was able to improve that I think will be very useful during the rest of my time at SJSU and beyond.

PERSONAL GROWTH:  think one of the biggest impacts this trip had on me was increased confidence that I can travel and navigate life in a foreign city on my own. This was my first solo trip ever, and the fact that it was an international trip to a country across the world made me even more nervous. When I was first accepted into the program, I actually questioned if I should even go. I’m so glad I did because it was such an amazing experience and I was able to grow so much. At the start of my trip, I was anxious about public transportation – where to take buses and subways, how to pay for them, where to get off, how to reload my T-money card, and so on. But by the time I left South Korea I felt really comfortable commuting around Seoul by both bus and subway. I think the other big impact studying abroad had on me was in terms of how much I interacted with new people. Before going abroad I usually preferred to keep to myself, but throughout the program I talked to and hung out with so many more people than I ever would have at home. Playing cards with some of the other students in the dorms quickly became one of my favorite activities to do at night.

IDENTITIES: Each of my identities affected my study abroad experience differently. As a young woman, I feel like I always have to be extra careful when I’m out. This was still true in South Korea and I was still cautious, but overall I felt very comfortable exploring unfamiliar areas and walking around late at night (both in small groups and on my own). As someone who is visibly not Korean, before studying abroad I already expected to stand out. While walking around Seoul I would sometimes notice people staring at me. But as I became more familiar with Seoul and more accustomed to people staring at me, this bothered me less. So while it didn’t become less visible to others, in a way, it felt less visible to me. And although I’m queer, people rarely realize unless I tell them directly – therefore, it didn’t impact the way strangers interacted with me. However, it did help me connect with many students in the program. It was nice to meet so many queer people from all around the world.

FUTURE: I believe I’m better prepared to understand and respectfully interact with people from all cultures, which is something I’ll be doing on a daily basis in my intended career. Increased confidence in myself and experience interacting with new people more frequently will also help me as I apply to different graduate schools and jobs. My ability to navigate unfamiliar and unexpected situations, as well as live in an unfamiliar city, will help me if I relocate in the future.

TIPS: Talk to people, particularly other international students! Most are friendly and want to make new friends. Speak the language as much as possible, even if you only know a few words or phrases. In my experience, most locals greatly appreciate it. Explore the country as much as possible – if you can, visit cities or countries other than the one you’re studying in. Some professors might be able / willing to recommend places to visit. I also recommend keeping a travel journal of some sort and/or documenting your trip as much as possible with photos and videos – it’s something nice to look back on once you return home. If you plan on doing Summer School Abroad at SKKU, I highly recommend doing the pre-session if you are able. It allows you to form closer bonds with some of the international students, participate in more cultural activities, and stay in South Korea for longer. And no matter what country or program you choose, enjoy your time there!

Isabella Dandoy

Isabella Dandoy

MAJOR: Journalism

PROGRAM: SJSU Exchange – Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland

EMAIL: isabella.dandoy@sjsu.edu

BIO: My name is Isabella Dandoy (she/her) and I am a senior at SJSU majoring in journalism. I chose to study abroad for personal and professional reasons. I wanted to make new connections with others in my field worldwide and learn from my professors and mentors. I also wanted to grow as an individual by harboring self-confidence and independence.

LEADER, VOLUNTEER, OR JOB EXPERIENCES: At SJSU, I spent a year working on The Spear, SJSU’s sports publication. I spent my first semester as a reporter and my second semester as a content editor. I am also the secretary and one of the musical directors for SJSU’s all-female a Capella club, the Spartan Stellas. Before my study abroad experience, I worked part-time as a retail associate at Tilly’s, a clothing store.

GOALS: I wanted to live independently and solo travel. Academically and professionally, I wanted to learn and connect with other mentors in my field. I wanted to excel in all of my courses and receive high marks. I also wanted to explore every corner of Edinburgh, so that if I returned, I could show my family and friends around in the best way possible.

ACADEMICS: At Edinburgh Napier, I took 3 courses: Digital Media Content Creation, Global Media Industries, and Sports Journalism. I made an effort to connect with each of my professors and always reached out for help or feedback whenever I needed it. I prioritized all of my schoolwork to be finished early so that I could allot the remainder of my time to exploring and traveling. Because the courses work much differently at Edinburgh Napier compared to SJSU, it was easy to adjust when I studied abroad. I was very prepared and motivated to receive high marks in each class.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: At Edinburgh Napier, I joined the book club with one of my international friends. I also joined a neighboring university’s Filipino Society (University of Edinburgh). I was able to meet so many people from different ethnic backgrounds. But it was also nice to meet other students who were also Filipino. In Edinburgh, I was able to tour the city and learn about its culture. I was also able to travel to the Highlands and experience its beauty. Because I come from a family that loves to travel the world, I’ve learned that travel is all about keeping an open mind and immersing yourself into different cultures. Though my travel didn’t change my perspective, it did strengthen it.

CAREER: I was able to further hone my skills in audio and video editing, as well as use my journalistic writing skills in a professional setting at a Scottish Premier Football League match. Through feedback and assistance from my professors and peers, I learned to adopt British English in my writing. I also did lots of presentations and gained more public speaking experience. I learned how to utilize different software like Adobe Audition and Shorthand to tell different stories in an intricate way. Through my courses, I was able to reignite my artistic expression and creativity.

PERSONAL GROWTH: My study abroad experience has granted me a newfound confidence that I wouldn’t have been able to discover elsewhere. Being far away from home, you’re almost forced to be self-reliant and independent. I was motivated to become the best version of myself. Studying abroad was one of the best, yet hardest decisions I’ve ever made, but I’m so grateful I did.

IDENTITIES: There were a couple of times I was met with sexist and bigoted exchange students who disagreed with the sentiments that and me and my female friends shared about equal pay/opportunity. There were also a few racist remarks I received from other exchange students that assumed my ethnicity. Despite all of these obstacles, both of these identities persisted and became even more visible. I was proud of who I was and never hid it.

FUTURE: I have connections around the world, both friendship and professional. I am more willing to leave my hometown of San Jose and grow elsewhere once I’ve graduated. I’m more confident in situations where I don’t know anyone; I’m not as much of an introvert as I was a year prior. Being “new” doesn’t scare me anymore. I’ve learned and honed more technical skills that I can utilize in future journalistic practices.

TIPS: Always keep an open​​​​​​​ mind and a willingness to learn. No matter what country you decide to study abroad in, your greatest strength as a student abroad is your ability to listen. Learn from those around you and immerse yourself in new cultures. By the time you return home, you can say that you were a local yourself.