Photo courtesy of Kiera McLaughlin ‘26
By Kiera McLaughlin ’26
Global Editor
Before I even committed to Mount Holyoke College, I knew I wanted to study abroad. However, I never could have imagined the impact it would have on me.
For the fall 2024 semester, I spent three months in the southern Spanish city of Seville with the Council on International Educational Exchange’s Communication, New Media, and Journalism Spanish program. There I studied journalism and politics, and I got to apply my Spanish skills in an immersive setting surrounded by students equally invested in language growth.
While I was in Spain, I made friends from around the U.S. and traveled to different European countries that opened my eyes to diverse cultures and beautiful historic landmarks. It was truly a hands-on learning experience; all you had to do was put yourself out there.
But that is always easier said than done.
When I landed in Seville for the first time, my heart was racing and I was automatically intimidated by everything and everyone. It was such an out of body experience to start a new chapter of my life in a distinctly different culture and to have to acclimate to a language that is not my own.
Photo courtesy of Kiera McLaughlin ‘26
There were tons of ups and downs from the beginning, and I would be lying if I said that they stopped after the first couple of weeks. I was constantly anxious about speaking Spanish and stepping outside of my comfort zone, but what made all these obstacles easier was accepting the awkwardness that comes with being a foreigner in your 20s.
My professors and advisors in the CIEE program were extra patient with my slow start in Spanish, and applauded my improvement which made me feel so much more comfortable. While my Spanish definitely got better, I knew there was a lot of work to do during my time abroad, and especially after, as I continue to practice the language.
I was extremely lucky to have my girlfriend by my side throughout my time abroad. Together we took on weekend trips around the European continent, where in each city we had to tackle the public transportation and find food and housing, all while managing our school work.
When people ask me about the best parts of being abroad, I always say: Being surrounded by Spanish. Even though I am far from mastering the language, and I am often left dumbfounded in conversation, the language motivated me each day when walking around the stunning city, in my courses, and when I had the chance to practice with friends.
Photo courtesy of Kiera McLaughlin ‘26
Ahead of going abroad, I also had the support of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, which helps students with a Federal Pell Grant receive more funding in order to afford their global education.
None of this would have been possible without the support I received from my professors and friends at Mount Holyoke. Although I knew I was going to go to a Spanish-speaking country before I came to campus, the experiences and kindness I have received at this school gave me the confidence to truly put myself out there in ways I could have never imagined.
For more information about the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, contact the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives and go follow this link: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/. The next deadline is March 6, 2025.
Karishma Ramkarran ’27 contributed fact-checking.