Change of Plans: I’m Studying Abroad

January 17, 2018

Everything changed when I realized how unfamiliar and naive I was to other parts of the world. My entire future was strategically mapped out (become a marketer/bodybuilder in the US)… that is,  up until my sorority sister came back from the ASU: Sun Devils in Dublin: Internship and Study Abroad Program. She told me stories of her internship, the wonderful people she met, the sheep she saw, and the castles she visited only to make me more curious and yearning to see the world. 

I had no idea how I was going to do it as a first generation, minority student. I did not have a large savings account and I come from a single parent family.

In order to see more of the world while working towards a degree I had to take charge, make changes and hope for a miracle… The only thing I had going for me was my determination. I’ve always been one to become obsessed with an idea and pursue it wholeheartedly (extremely promotion-focused).

So here’s how I made studying abroad happen with 4 weeks left before applications were due and 3 months prior to the start of the program.

Be a Questionable Quinn (if you don’t ask, you won’t know)

  1. I went to a study abroad information session at ASU.

  2. I narrowed down programs of places I would want to go to and compared costs on the ASU Study Abroad search engine.

  3. I attended the ASU Study Abroad Expo: A peer advisor introduced me to a CIEE representative (coincidence or fate) and I asked a million questions about the countries she had been to, what the CIEE classes are like, and if I should be worried about terrorism! The CIEE rep asked, “Why don’t you study abroad next semester?”

  4. I walked into the international study abroad advisor’s walk-in hours and she informed me of the scholarships offered by CIEE, ASU and outside sources like the Gilman.

After gaining the confidence to pursue my goal, I began the CIEE and ASU application immediately and applied for a passport.

Get Paid to Get Powerful, Intellectually (if you don’t try, you can’t win)

  1. I searched ASU scholarships

  2. Frugal became my middle name, and I cut unnecessary costs (eyelash extensions, trainer, sorority, etc.).

  3. I applied for a 2nd job as a server (Tip: expect to spend time studying the menu).

  4. I started the scholarship applications and I visited many tutoring centers for a variety of views (Business, Barrett, Noble).

  5. I reached out to people for advice and to read my essays such as: my success coach from freshman year, my mom, and the ASU program manager from the National Scholarship Advisement.

Prepare to spend a few weeks on these. I worked up to the deadline for most scholarships and made edits probably every other day to ensure that I answered every question and included my voice and personality.

Make a Decision (if you don’t do it now, you may never do it)

I decided to spend 18 weeks in 3 different locations to earn 18 credits and fulfill some international business certificate requirements on the CIEE Multi-Destination Open Campus program. It allows students to experience so much in a short time, be in shared apartments at each location (experiencing the dorm life that I never never got to) and experience class field trips together!

Be Versatile (if you don’t stop planning, you can’t start living)

Plans change and life may take you in an unexpected direction to pursue something greater and you just have to go with it!

My journey is about to begin and I expect to become more independent, understanding, confident and considerate. In addition to making friends and connections, I will have stories to tell and will be a stronger asset to a company as a global citizen. Memories that I will never forget are about to form and here I reflect on the process of how I did it and what made me do it.