Soaring to New Heights

In this episode of  Soaring to New Heights , Andres Tobar Melo, an international student from Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) studying abroad at Boston College, joins Vanessa Espinosa, a BC student who studied abroad at USFQ in Quito, Ecuador. From navigating new education systems and cultural norms to building community in unfamiliar places, Andres and Vanessa share how studying abroad...

In this episode of Soaring to New Heights , Jedson Dimanche, a second-year student studying general business at Messina College, details his summer in Paris studying drawing and art history. Jedson discusses seeing his textbooks come to life, navigating linguistic challenges, and drawing inspiration from small wins. He also completed a service immersion program and discusses the value of truly tak...

In this special episode of  Soaring to New Heights , Ryan Jacobson and Nia Mitchell share their unique experiences while having summer internships in Tokyo, Japan. From working in marketing at a software engineering company to diving into operational consulting tied to industries like Toyota, they reflect on navigating a new workplace culture, exploring the city, and building independence abroad....

In this episode of  Soaring to New Heights , Emma Castilla, a pre-health student, shares her semester abroad in Kisumu, Kenya, during Fall 2024. From the very start, her experience was defined by deep cultural immersion—exploring local restaurants, adapting to daily life in a new environment, and building meaningful relationships with her host family over shared meals. Academically and professiona...

In this episode of  Soaring to New Heights , Hudson DeLorme shares his semester abroad in Parma, Italy, where he studied at the University of Parma. As an Italian minor and lifelong soccer fan, the experience felt full circle—blending academic interests with everyday immersion in Italian culture. While abroad, Hudson interned with Parma Calcio 1913, gaining firsthand exposure to the sport he’s fol...

This episode of  Soaring to New Heights  features Isabelle Goldstein, who spent a semester studying at the American College of Greece in Athens. With no prior knowledge of Greek, she learned the language gradually throughout the semester while navigating daily life in the city. The episode highlights her experience living in dorms, taking classes abroad, and exploring Athens’ surrounding regions,...

In this episode, Peter Coquillette shares his unforgettable study abroad experience in Kathmandu, Nepal. Living with a local host family, he immersed himself in Nepali culture, learned about Buddhism, and developed a deep sense of independence. From exploring the Himalayas to traveling across Asia, Peter reflects on how his time abroad challenged him, broadened his worldview, and shaped his perspe...

In this episode, Stella Rogers shares her study abroad experience in Perth, Australia, where she explored the vibrant culture and natural beauty of Western Australia. Inspired by an exchange student from the University of Western Australia whom she met at Boston College during her freshman year, Stella had dreamed of going to Perth ever since. As an International Studies and French student, she wa...

In this episode, William Kelly, a senior at Boston College, shares his experience studying abroad in Paris. Having grown up in a French immersion program, he reconnected with the language by living with a host mom in the 17th arrondissement and taking classes entirely in French. His semester coincided with the 2024 U.S. election, sparking a deeper global awareness that led him to pursue a minor in...

In this episode, Sam shares his study abroad experience in Amman, Jordan, focusing on refugee and humanitarian issues. Motivated by his high school podcast on refugee crises, he chose Jordan to deepen his Arabic skills and engage with refugee work, particularly the Syrian crisis. 

In this episode, Hunter describes his time in Rio as a recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship, integrating his time abroad into his major, and his distinct global experiences at BC.

In this episode, Jessica talks about her semester abroad with SIT in Rwanda. She discusses connecting with her host community, learning the local language, and doing research as part of the program.

In this episode, Fairuz discusses spending a semester in Argentina, getting the opportunity to work an internship while abroad, and academics in a global context.

In this episode, Echo discusses working in tandem with a host community on relevant projects, going abroad during the summer, and overcoming language barriers to connect with others.

In this episode, Misty discusses her experience returning to her birth country to study abroad, how hands-on experiences helped enrich the program, and how Boston Vietnamese food stacks up to the original.

In this episode, Kenneth discusses his decision to study abroad in a less traditional location, building connections with locals, and how Egyptian rugby compares to American football.

In this episode, Stacey gives us an insight into living down under, discusses how to get a feel for different cities in your host country, and what it's like to try something new things while abroad.

In this episode, Brandon discusses going from Boston to Brazil, making friends while abroad, and growing closer with his host family.

In this episode of our Global Education podcast, Lesley Carranza Bonilla (CSON '24) discusses how she was able to study abroad twice, building connections abroad, applying for scholarships, and traveling in your host country.

In this episode, Sharon discusses her internship in Singapore, studying abroad in Paris, and navigating multiple cultural spaces simultaneously.

In this episode, Katy reflects on her semester in Spain, her time in Morocco, and connecting with others while abroad.

In this episode, Saya discusses her experience learning more about her host community, interning while abroad, the impacts of race and social class, as well as being abroad during a World Cup victory. 

In this episode, Jonathan recalls his semester studying in Madrid, how studying abroad helped build his confidence, and how he was able to reflect on his identity abroad. 

In this episode, Faith Ricaa discusses her time in Rome taking the course Saints and Sinners . She highlights her insights on the course, overcoming language barriers, and cultural differences between cities in Italy. 

In this episode, Jax Cai discusses his faculty-led course The Ethics of Capitalism: Flourishing in a Commercial Society. He discusses his process of being awarded a Gilman scholarship, why he chose to go abroad in the summer, and how he pushed through adversity to make studying abroad a reality.