Katelyn Brodsky
College of Engineering
The reason I decided to study abroad was that I really wanted the experience of traveling and meeting people with similar goals as me. Studying abroad was the best decision I’ve made so far at UofM. I was able to complete courses for my major while exploring a new city and culture. Going out and exploring every day after class was incredible, especially as Paris is so rich in museums, cultural centers, and many many restaurants. I loved being able to explore with friends and see landmarks I’d only ever read about or saw on TV. I’ve been taking French classes for 5 years, so while I was familiar with the language, it was still hard to understand locals. Fortunately, many of them spoke English or were willing to talk slower so I could understand better. Honestly, I think the most important thing I learned is that if you’re having trouble, ask for someone to slow down and explain, and 9 times out of 10 they’ll be more than happy to. I made so many friends who will be with me through the rest of my life, and I’m so thankful for that. I loved studying abroad and I genuinely think everyone should do it.
The First-Gen Education Abroad Scholarship made it so that I didn’t have to take out a loan. The scholarship saved me financially and allowed me to not worry about working more to begin paying it off during the school year or as soon as I got back. I’m so thankful for it.
Not only am I a first-generation college student, but my mother passed away a few years ago and my father and I don’t talk. All of my friends abroad called their families almost every day, and it was wonderful to see them have that support. I didn’t have people to call every night, so I didn’t have the same support system going into this that they did. Because of that, I was mostly alone in encouraging myself to leave the apartment to go and meet people or explore. It’s hard when a support system doesn’t understand the full situation of being abroad, but it’s completely different when there’s no support system at all. It was challenging to feel comfortable in Paris at first, I knew no one going in and no parental support to talk to from home. I learned to push myself hard out of my comfort zone and I ended up seeing everything I wanted to and meeting wonderful people. I’m proud of myself for that, especially since I got sick the first week and that kind of hindered my ability to go out with people and make friends after classes.
My advice for future students who would like to study abroad is to carry and use hand sanitizer everywhere, especially if you’re using public transport. Don’t be scared of doing things alone the first few days, if your roommate doesn’t want to do something that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t either. If there are group outings or trips with the program, always go; it’s great for meeting new people, and exploring, and, in my experience, was always free.