My participation as an International Scholar at the University of Florida resulted in my confidence growing exponentially. Through physical travel and continued education, the program broadened my horizons. It forced me out of my comfort zone to try new things that I otherwise may have missed out on, positively impacting my academic, personal, and professional life.
One of the biggest risks that I took in my study abroad was choosing a country that did not speak English. Furthermore, I chose a city, Huanchaco, Peru, where it was rare to run into any person who could speak a language other than Spanish. I did not know Spanish--I took American Sign Language in college--so I had to overcome my fear to make the best of my experience. Although it was scary to travel without the ease of communication, by the end of the program, I had picked up rudimentary Spanish to go shopping by myself, purchasing meals and souvenirs without the help of a translator. This has made me more confident in communicating with others, even with a language barrier. It has also encouraged me to continue to learn new languages. This semester, I have begun to self-study French, and I hope to be able to apply it in my future travels. In graduate school, I will likely apply this self-study, alongside continued study of Spanish, to access different primary sources that I otherwise would have missed.
Furthermore, the program has expanded my personal interests in art. While in Peru, I was able to enjoy archeological artifacts, seeing art from 500 to present. I loved seeing the different art styles and the materials that each group of people used, vastly changing based on the government in place, available materials, and popular religion. I had never thought I would be interested in this before, but looking back, I don't think I would change a thing. Similarly, it has encouraged me to visit more museums and expand my horizons in what types of art i view. The Harn's museum nights have also helped with this, allowing me to expand my international mindset even while in Gainesville. Their activities also let me work hands-on with art, further cementing my interest in the subject. Though this is my personal interest, it has led to my application to Material Culture and Public Humanities programs for graduate school, where I will be able to translate my interests from personal to professional.
My professional life has also benefited from becoming an International Scholar. As I am applying to graduate school, I can confidently say that I have experience traveling to different countries to conduct historical and archeological research. I can now present to groups of different people, regardless of cultural background. This April, I will present my research alongside historians who study Latin America, Africa, and Europe. With the help of this program, I am confident that I can communicate my findings and understand theirs to a greater extent. In turn, I have greater cultural understanding that enables me to connect with others across time. As a historian, traveling to different areas to access archives is integral to having a diverse selection of sources. An advanced cultural understanding leads to an advanced analysis of sources, aiding and improving my future research. This program gave me a taste of what my future could be like as a historian.
Overall, the International Scholars program granted me growth in every aspect of my life. I went from not traveling outside of North America to learning new languages and making friends across cultural barriers. From Gainesville to Peru to where I end up in the future, I am now more confident in everything that I do, and I can't wait to continue to apply what I have learned after graduation.