Tag Archives: University of Roehampton

Josie Hammar

Josie Hammar

MAJOR: English/Creative Writing

PROGRAM: SJSU Exchange –  University of Roehampton, England

EMAIL:  sisterjenny@jbear.org

BIO: My name is Josie Hammar and I am about to enter my fourth year at SJSU. I am studying English Literature because I have a passion for writing and reading stories that make an impact. I studied abroad in London during my spring 2024 semester and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I chose to do this for quite a few reasons, the first one being that I wanted to explore a world outside of the only one I’ve ever known here in the bay area. I wanted to be in a place where no one already knew me, where I could make my own friendships and connections as who I am now. Additionally, since I am studying English Literature I thought it would be appropriate to study at the heart of this major; in England. In my time there I traveled so much and learned immensely about their culture and history, as well as in the classes I took. I also wanted to be able to have new, riveting, life changing experiences in a place I had never before been to. I’ve always lived in the same place my whole life and I craved something new and thrilling.

LEADERSHIP, VOLUNTEER, AND JOB EXPERIENCES:I have taken part in many leadership/volunteer opportunities. For example, I am currently a mentor for the youth group at Sant Clara First Baptist Church and have been in this role for two years, and have been a camp counselor for two years as well. I have also volunteered at elementary schools and helped lead other nonprofit church events. For work experience, I was a barista at Teaspoon for over a year, and worked as a customer service associate at Sally Beauty Supply for about two months. And I am about to start a new job as a barista at Coffee and Water Lab.

GOALS: One goal I had was to change and grow as a person. I wanted to have my mind blown by all the new people I would meet, the places I would see and experiences I would have. I wanted to walk out of this journey different than who I was at the start. Another goal I had was to thrive independently, to be fully immersed in another culture and learn from the people there, and gain invaluable knowledge from my classes. I wanted to travel and experience different worlds than what I was used to. My other goal was to make lifelong friendships. And all of these, I am happy to say I have achieved.

ACADEMICS: I took three classes. One was based on Greek and roman mythology, the other was a creative and professional writing class, and the last was literature based on film and philosophy. These are actually the first classes I took for my major now that I’ve completed my GE’s, so I went into them with excitement and motivation. In order to succeed, I made sure to be fully immersed in learning everything we were taught, and often consulted with my professors. It also helped that I was really passionate about everything we studied in these classes. Now that I’ve done school abroad, I am very much looking forward to taking more classes here at SJSU with a fresh perspective and hopefully can apply what I learned overseas.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: I not only met people from England, but from all over Europe as well as Asia, Australia, Africa, and South America. Being surrounded by those who weren’t just American was definitely a cultural shock for me, but it was also a very beautiful and eye opening experience.

CAREER: My communication, networking, and independence skills have all sharpened during my time abroad. Being a new student I was forced to meet as many people as I could, and I am very grateful for this because it led me to some of the most amazing people. Since I’ve been back I feel that I am able to better apply all of these in my daily and academic life. Overall, I am a much more confident and motivated person that is eager to get to know more people from different cultures.

PERSONAL GROWTH: This entire journey was the greatest decision I’ve ever made for myself. It was something so unfathomably new and exciting, but ultimately very liberating. This was the biggest impact for me. After going to a new country by myself and making an entire life there, I feel that I can achieve anything. It definitely put me in a vulnerable position at first but I believe that I needed to feel that way in order to see what I could do and build from the ground up. I want other students to be able to experience this as well.

IDENTITIES: When I first started college I struggled with severe anxiety and was at a very low point in my life. I never thought I would be able to do something such as study abroad, and yet every decision I’ve made since the start of my college experience led me here. It has helped me to realize that I’m much stronger than I give myself credit for.

FUTURE: Study abroad has prepared me for the future by helping me to expand my traveling, independence, communication, and networking skills as well as my knowledge of other countries and cultures. I can use all of this information in my future opportunities, friendships and careers.

TIPS: Trying something new is never a waste. Even the smallest decision you make can change your life in ways you never thought possible. Studying abroad is the best choice I ever made and it changed my life immensely. I’m much more confident, have friends and memories I’ll never forget, and have experienced a journey that most people have not. If you’re able to take this chance, do it and put all of your heart into it. You never know what may come out of an opportunity such as this or how it will shape you and your future. 

Alycia Low

Alycia Low

Alycia Low (alum)
Major: Public Relations and Minored in Professional and Technical Writing
Term Abroad: Fall 2017
Program / Location: SJSU Exchange University of Roehampton, London, UK
Position Title: Recruiting Coordinator
Employer: Roblox

How did your study abroad experience help you with your coursework once you returned to SJSU?
Overall I think my experience helped me become more confident when it came to social interactions with my classmates. It also helped me see things from a different perspective. Having gone abroad, I recognized that there were other ways to approach questions I had about the world.

How did your study abroad experience help strengthen your job prospects?
It definitely helped me stand out as a candidate and was often a topic of conversation when interviewing. They would ask about my experience abroad and how that has shaped me. For me, studying abroad has really shaped the way I think about my career. It’s what led me to my position as a Study Abroad Student Assistant, which has helped me realize I want to go down this career path in recruiting/HR.

Please describe any skills you learned abroad that you are applying in your current academic, professional, or personal life.
Going abroad and having that experience has taught me how to have more grace and compassion for those around me who are from different parts of the world. While I was in the UK/Europe, I was a minority (as an Asian-American) and it helped me appreciate other cultures, including my own, even more!

What is the most memorable experience or moment from your time abroad?
During my last couple of weeks in the UK, I had the opportunity to travel alone in Scotland. This was probably one of the best decisions I had made. It taught me how to be self-sufficient and brought a whole new perspective on travelling. I had the unique experience of eating alone for consecutive meals, for example, and even asking fellow tourists/locals for directions or photos. Through this trip, I was also able to fully embrace the boldness I had learned over the past few months abroad, which helped me to be more confident in my social interactions and even my decisions.

What other experiences do you wish you had optimized while abroad to help you in your career path?
Although I had a great time in London, I do wish I had the opportunity to try living abroad for a longer period of time and maybe even challenge myself to go somewhere out of the ordinary. I also wish I was told that it’s okay not to travel all of Europe in that one semester, and that it’s okay to just sit and absorb what my home city has to offer. I was constantly travelling every weekend that I don’t feel like I truly got to experience London and all that it has to offer.

Any other advice to current Spartans about maximizing the study abroad experience? 
As I mentioned before, I’d highly encourage students to take time to really take in your home city/country. There’s so much your city has to offer and your program will be over before you know it, so really take it in. I think there’s a lot of pressure people put on folks (at least travelling to Europe) to explore as much as you can, but I really wish someone told me this before I planned all of these trips. This was my first time to Europe and I wish I had taken the time to get to know the folks and areas around me.

Abigail Alcain

Abigail Alcain

NAME: Abigail Alcain
MAJOR: Biological Sciences
TERM: Spring 2022
PROGRAM: SJSU Exchange University of Roehampton, UK
EMAIL: alcainabigail@gmail.com

Why did you want to study abroad? 
Studying abroad looked like a great opportunity for me to experience new places and traveling as well as meeting new people from different backgrounds. I also wanted to use this opportunity to advance my career by connecting with the professors and programs that I’m able to participate in.

What has been your most surprising, positive, or challenging experience abroad?
A surprising experience that I have noticed is that I live on one of the four campuses here, and I live on the campus that’s far away from the main campus. I was surprised that this college was separated from all the others and distinctly far from the main one. But all my classes and labs are in my current college anyways so I don’t have to go to the main campus unless it’s for a social event or for the library. Another challenging experience is the transportation, all transportation is taken by bus or train, and I am not used to public transportation as much as I am now because that is how I get everywhere, and especially most places near me take about 30 minutes to an hour to get somewhere.

Any advice to potential study abroad students?
For potential study abroad students, would probably be to study what norms take place at that specific country beforehand. And definitely make sure all the financials are taking care of (such as if you need a new phone number/SIM card, a bank, transportation card). Also make sure you know where the nearest hospital is just in case.

How are you managing your academic success abroad during the pandemic?
I have managed to keep my academics controlled bye renting all the textbooks and materials required for my classes. I also depend on the online moodle (CANVAS) for notifications from professors as well as accessing the lectures and videos required.

What are some ways that you are interacting with the local community ?
I have definitely met many people within the community of my area, and they have helped me explore around London and we try new foods and visit in new places and overall had fun!

What are some tips for managing your health and safety while traveling during the pandemic?
Make sure to have your insurance on hand at all times, especially on your phone in case you have any major injuries. As well make sure you tell someone where you are at and never go alone.