Oscar Wilde Statue

NAME: Isabella Silva

MAJOR: Sociology

PROGRAM: SJSU Exchange –Dublin, Ireland exchange University College Dublin- Spring 2025

EMAIL: bella.silva@sjsu.edu

BIO: 

I am a 4th year at San Jose State University and am majoring in sociology. I have always wanted to travel, but never had the opportunity. I chose to study abroad because I wanted the chance to be immersed in a culture different than mine. I felt that this would be an amazing opportunity to strengthen my understanding of the field I was studying, while also learning more about myself.

GOALS: What were your goals for studying abroad? 

My personal goals were to gain some insight as to how to be resourceful and feel self-reliant. It was my first time living on my own, and I felt it was important for me to have this experience, but I knew that there would be a learning curve and an opportunity to grow. This also goes for my academic and professional goals. I wanted to make sure I was still having experiences while also maintaining my GPA and making new connections abroad by making new friends. I wanted to expand my world view and allow myself to be open to new experiences and opportunities that I had maybe not always envisioned for myself. 

 PERSONAL GROWTH: What was the biggest impact that your study abroad experience had on you?

 ACADEMICS: How would you describe your academic experience abroad?

The courses I chose to study were Art and Social Change, Ethics and Care, Sociology of Nations, and Environmental Sociology. These were courses that I chose in part because of my own personal interest, of course, but mainly because these were the classes that would fulfill my elective requirements to graduate. I made sure to meet with my academic advisor to ensure these were the appropriate courses. In order ot ensure my academic success, I made sure to make friends within the classes that I was in to have a support system since I was so far away from home. I also made sure to reach out to my professors whenever I needed to. I have noticed a great sense of confidence within myself as a student now, which didn’t always exist. I belive that throwing yourself into the unknown creates so many learning opportunities which nurtures the growth mindset which I definitely have now.

 CAREER: What skills did you learn / sharpen during your study abroad experience? 

Studying abroad made me a better person. It made me more compassionate towards myself and others by practicing patience. When you’re traveling, you have to practice patience and gratitude because you’re often exhausted. You’re in a different country where you don’t understand the customs. I would say studying abroad pushes you to stay open-minded and to embrace everything in the very moment. I’ve noticed since returning home that I’m more present, and I practice gratitude more often because I’m now more open to new experiences. I’m also more sociable and out of my comfort zone, able to talk to people and feel at ease. This has allowed me to form new friendships with people, even after I’ve returned from studying abroad. I also feel much lighter in myself. I set a goal and made it happen.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: How has your immersion impacted your perspectives on the world? 

My immersion experience impacted my perspectives on the world, as it made me feel more connected to the world around me. I feel like in the United States, we are extremely isolated from other cultures, whereas in Europe, especially, there’s a lot of exposure and travel amongst different countries. I think it definitely provided me with a sense that there’s so much opportunity in the world, and the world is so big, and there are so many different things I could do. It’s not that I was hopeless before traveling abroad, it’s that I didn’t know what I was missing, and somehow traveling made me more hopeful for my future and excited as well.

FUTURE: How has study abroad prepared you for your future? 

I would say studying abroad has prepared me for my future by teaching me the importance of being uncomfortable. I think we have been taught to hold onto comfort, and that’s not always the healthiest, nor is it the best route to go. When you’re uncomfortable, it means you’re growing. Studying abroad is definitely an experience that teaches you not to always be comfortable and to embrace that. It is exciting and beautiful, and if you get the chance to do it, it’s something that you’ll never forget.

TIPS: What advice would you give to future Global Spartans?  

Advice I would give to a future global Spartan is to practice gratitude every day when you’re abroad, because it goes so fast that you’ll snap your fingers and it’ll be over. Learn what you can abroad academically, socially, and culturally. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, or actually, it’s OK to be afraid, but just don’t let that stop you.