We are excited to announce our ISA scholarship winners for Fall 2024! Congratulations to Aaron, Abubakar, Andrea, Cheney, and Kyleigh.
From conversing in Spanish with locals to forming meaningful connections in Meknes, our scholarship winners share what they’re looking forward to most while abroad. We asked them a few questions to learn more about their stories, too!
MEET OUR GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY (FULL RIDE) SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Abubakar A.
Home University: University of Louisville
Headed to: Meknes, Morocco
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? My inspiration to choose Morocco as my study abroad destination stems from my desire to immerse myself in an Arab Muslim country where I could deepen my understanding of Islamic culture and the Arabic language. Among the various options available, I found Moroccan culture to be the most fascinating. The unique Moroccan dialect, Darija, particularly captivated me because of its distinct blend of Arabic, Berber, French, and Spanish influences. This dialect offers a remarkable accessibility to other Arabic dialects, enhancing my ability to communicate across different Arabic-speaking regions. Additionally, Morocco’s rich history, diverse landscapes, and the warmth and hospitality of its people further solidified my decision to study there. I believe that experiencing Morocco firsthand will significantly enrich my linguistic skills and cultural appreciation.
What does this scholarship mean to you? This scholarship is a profound affirmation of my journey and commitment to expanding my cultural and linguistic horizons. It allows me to continue my studies in Morocco, where I can immerse myself in the local culture, enhance my Arabic skills, and form meaningful connections with the Moroccan community. It represents an opportunity to grow academically, personally, and spiritually, and to bring back valuable experiences that will shape my future endeavors. Additionally, this scholarship aligns perfectly with my long-term goal of becoming a physician, specifically an ophthalmologist. I aspire to volunteer in regions where glaucoma and cataracts are prevalent, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. A deep understanding of Arabic and the local cultures will be instrumental in my ability to effectively communicate and provide care in these regions. This experience will be crucial in preparing me to serve these communities better and make a meaningful impact on their healthcare.
What are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to staying with my host family and volunteering in an ophthalmology clinic and a general hospital in Meknes, Morocco. This will provide me with a unique opportunity to observe and compare the differences in healthcare between the US and other countries. Engaging in a homestay will offer me a firsthand experience of Moroccan family life, allowing me to learn about their customs, traditions, and daily routines. Participating in Quran classes at a local mosque will deepen my religious knowledge and help me connect with the local Muslim community. Additionally, practicing and improving my Darija (Moroccan Arabic) through daily interactions with locals will enhance my linguistic skills and provide me with a deeper understanding of the cultural nuances and social dynamics within Morocco.
MEET OUR DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Andrea V.
Home University: University of Texas at El Paso
Headed to: Madrid, Spain
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? What inspired me to choose Madrid, Spain, as my study abroad destination is its culture, the people, and how beautiful they say it is. I have never been to Europe, and being in a place where they speak a language that I am fluent in will give me the opportunity to enjoy it much more. Besides, Madrid is the capital and the heart of Spain, so I am very excited to start this new adventure.
What does this scholarship mean to you? The truth is that this scholarship motivates me even more in this experience that I am about to live, since being selected made me feel very proud of myself and above all to trust in my abilities and in all that I can achieve. I felt heard, and I will always be grateful for that.
What are you most looking forward to? My intention is to make this trip and adventure one of the best experiences I will have in my life, since few of us have the opportunity to live something like this. As a Latin American, I feel proud to represent two different cultures that have made me a great woman today. And, of course, I am very open to know the different cultures in Europe, travel a lot, and learn a lot more about my career with the great academic level that they have in Madrid.
Cheney G.
Home University: Ohio State University
Headed to: Buenos Aires, Argentina
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I was inspired to pick my study abroad destination because I have been fascinated by Argentine culture and its distinctiveness in Latin America.
What does this scholarship mean to you? My scholarship makes me feel empowered to see the world and gain a better understanding of international cultures.
What are you most looking forward to? I am most looking forward to making friends in Argentina and improving my Spanish.
Kyleigh B.
Home University: Arizona State University
Headed to: San Jose, Costa Rica
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I was drawn to San Jose, Costa Rica, to deepen my understanding of Costa Rica’s environmental policy and culture. Additionally, the curriculum at Veritas University offers me the opportunity to take classes on circular economies and leadership communication.
What does this scholarship mean to you? As a first-generation college student and the first one in my family to study abroad, this scholarship will be one of the biggest factors contributing to my financial security abroad and will significantly reduce the amount of student loans used to fund my trip. am extremely grateful for ISA’s investment in my career development and global experience
What are you most looking forward to? Costa Rica’s differing approach to environmental management and resource conservation is something I am eager to learn about and compare to the U.S. Additionally, as someone who has been studying Spanish for seven years, I look forward to sharpening my Spanish skills and learning from Costa Rican culture and traditions. This will be an invaluable experience for elevating my education in sustainability and environmental policy and broadening my worldview.
MEET OUR SEMESTER PARTNERSHIP WINNER
Aaron M.
Home University: Grand Valley State University
Headed to: Barcelona, Spain
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? Choosing where to go was a tough decision, but I ultimately chose Barcelona because I wanted to challenge my Spanish-speaking skills in an environment that would feel quite unfamiliar. I’ve never been abroad, so visiting a beautiful Spanish city like Barcelona sounds like an amazing experience. I chose Barcelona specifically after speaking to a student ISA representative at my school and hearing great things about the city and the program.
What does this scholarship mean to you? This scholarship means a lot to me because funding a trip abroad—let alone a whole semester—sounded like an unreasonable goal just a few years ago. But now I can go and I truly believe that the experience will be a cornerstone to the rest of my academic career and hopefully continue to inspire me post-grad.
What are you most looking forward to? I am looking forward to being challenged every day with new unfamiliar situations that will help me build my Spanish proficiency and cultural awareness and I hope to meet some interesting people to share this wonderful experience with. I also can’t wait to explore the city and learn more about Catalonia and Spain in general.
Jaiven P.
Home University: Boise State University
Headed to: Barcelona, Spain
What inspired you to pick your study abroad destination? I picked Barcelona so I could study Spanish in the big city environment and be close to the coast!
What does this scholarship mean to you? This scholarship allows me to save money and be able to invest more into my overall experience abroad.
What are you most looking forward to? I’m most looking forward to developing my Spanish speaking skills while exploring and learning about the Spanish and Catalan cultures with new friends!
ABOUT ISA’S SCHOLARSHIPS
ISA offers generous scholarships to help make study abroad a reality. No matter your program or term length, we have a variety of merit- or need-based scholarship opportunities for you!
There are also a number of university, local, and national scholarships you may be eligible for. Be sure to check with your Study Abroad and Financial Aid offices to see if they offer any scholarships or additional information.
Source link
All Materials on this website/blog are only for Learning & Educational purposes. It is strictly recommended to buy the products from the original owner/publisher of these products. Our intention is not to infringe any copyright policy. If you are the copyright holder of any of the content uploaded on this site and don’t want it to be here. Instead of taking any other action, please contact us. Your complaint would be honored, and the highlighted content will be removed instantly.