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| STUDY ABROAD |
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SET
HIGHER GOALS |
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Marissa Hirsh '08
"Immersion in another
culture is, in my opinion, the only way to learn
about others and make this world a better place."
MY GOALS:
One
of my biggest goals when I came to Miami was to
challenge myself to step outside of my comfort
zone. I grew up in community whose demographics
were quite similar to Miami's and I knew I would
need to find ways to experience new things. I
believe I accomplished that goal in more than
I ever could have imagined. I have traveled outside
of the country 5 times - to Luxembourg, Namibia,
El Salvador, Israel, and Guatemala. All of these
experiences opened my eyes to new cultures and
broadened my view of the world and my place in
it. I also participated in 2 summer internship
programs - one in Washington, D.C. and another
in Chicago - both of which gave me real-world
experience in non-profit organizations. I am not
leaving Miami as the same person I started as.
And I believe that is proof of how much I not
only achieved my goals but also exceeded them
in ways that just make me eager to keep going.
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Miami ranks as one of the top schools in the nation for the number of students it sends abroad. The unique thing about study abroad at Miami is the amazing number of options! Miami's study abroad opportunities cover the whole spectrum. You can participate in an international workshop over winter or summer break, do a traditional study abroad for a semester or a year, or even do a direct exchange where you officially enroll as a student at a foreign university. Because study abroad is one of the most transformative learning experiences a student can have, our Honors advisors will work with you individually to make it possible.
In addition to connecting you with resources and opportunities, we also offer support for study abroad through 1) the Summer Tuition Waiver, which can be used to cover tuition for an international workshop over summer or winter break 2) encouraging you to fulfill requirements by going abroad, instead have having to "fit it in" to your schedule 3) hosting a study abroad fair for interested students 4) making available Honors Grants, which help defray the cost of travel related to research, service, leadership or creative projects.
Related Links:
Study Abroad at Miami
Office of International Education
Financial Aid for Study Abroad
Study Abroad and Travel Workshops
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FINDING MY PASSION ABROAD:
Participating in Earth Expeditions - a partnership program between the Cincinnati Zoo and Miami focused on inquiry-based learning and environmental conservation - allowed me to travel to Namibia, Africa. This trip proved to me just how much travel meant to my life and how I would need to continue to meet new people and learn about new cultures by going to them directly.
INDEPENDENT INTERDEPENDENCE?
How have I changed while at Miami? Interestingly enough, I have become more independent while also realizing the importance of interdependence. Through my travels, I have learned that I am not only capable of getting around on my own but I learned that allowing myself to do that, to step outside of my comfort zone and experience a new place, helps me to learn more about myself as well as more about the world around me. I have gained an enormous appreciation for all of the cultures that surround us and I seek to learn about the differences and understand the similarities. I have also learned about the true importance of interdependence, of working together, and learning from those around you. Coming into Miami, my mentality was often that I could do things on my own and that was the only way for them to be completed correctly. Sure, that is sometimes true. But often times, I was missing out by not reaching out to those around me. Both in class and through my traveling and internships, I have realized that working together with others is the only way successfully work for a cause and reach certain goals. This is a valuable lesson that I know I will carry with me through life.
Most Significant Activity:
AMBASSADORS
FOR CHILDREN- My most significant learning experience
has been my involvement with Ambassadors for Children.
I have learned about how non-profit organizations
work, how can I actively play a part in working
for a cause, and how immersion in another culture
is, in my opinion, the only way to learn about
others and make this world a better place. I traveled
with AFC to Guatemala on an alternative spring
break trip during my senior year. Along with 14
other Miami students and 1 faculty member, we
volunteered in a rural village a couple hours
outside of Antigua. The families and children
there are living in extreme poverty and this opened
all of our eyes to the inequities in this world.
We spent our days helping them to build a school.
This was an incredibly significant and moving
project to be a part of because education is an
important step in alleviating and eliminating
poverty and we were a part of an effort to make
that possible. Beyond that, the interactions we
had with the children and the love that they gave
us changed us in ways that we did not expect.
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