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Study Abroad Application Essay

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Kelsi McDougle Study Abroad Application The opportunity to study abroad in Spain would be an integral part of my education as academically and personally, the program complements where I have been, where I currently am, and where I am going. Over the past several months, I have spoken to Babson representatives, Babson students, abroad representatives, and had the chance to visit two potential schools to do an exchange program with. After conducting extensive research, I have concluded that studying in Granada, Spain would be the best fit given my previous experiences and goals moving forward. After participating in Babson’s Spain Elective Abroad in the spring of 2015, European culture, politics, and economic trends became topics of interest …show more content…

Having been born and raised in Boston, I have never felt out of place or like an outsider. During my past experiences abroad, I have learned that being American comes with a lot of preconceived notions. One of the biggest challenges associated with this is allowing nationality to define my experience. As an American, there are unique behaviors and ambiances I am accustomed to that I may not realize influence the impression I give off. Although being American is an integral part of my identity, I do not want my nationality to be the first thing people notice and consequently use to draw conclusions. In some sense, I think it will be a challenge to “fit in” especially since the program in Granada attracts many European students. As I have been thinking about it, there are several things I plan to do to hold on to my American identity without imposing it. One of the most important parts will be relying on Spanish more than I rely on English. I can speak Spanish well, but often shy away from using it for fear of embarrassment. Resorting to English would prevent me from achieving my goals and emphasize my foreignness. Thinking about this subject before jumping into the experience will also help me be more aware of the impressions I give off. It has hardly ever been difficult for me being an American before, but I anticipate this experience will challenge me to reexamine my identity and how being American will mean different things to different people around the world. Although being an “outsider” will be a challenge, I know it will force me to grow as an individual as I discover more about who I am as an

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