Scott Spangler '24

Program: Chile Semester

Major: Environmental Studies

Minor: Hispanic Studies

Athletic Team: Swim & Dive

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you decide on this program?

I knew I wanted to study abroad for years before I was a college student. I chose Chile specifically because I wanted to develop my Spanish speaking skills, and I wanted to travel to South America, as I didn't see myself being able to do so in a different context.

Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your program that made a lasting impression.

One experience I will never forget is the time we spent as a whole class in the Atacama Desert, and getting to learn about all sorts of geology, biology, and indigenous mythology from the local guides.

Describe your overall study abroad experience.

To describe my overall experience would take more text than this box will probably fit. If you truly want to know about my "overall" experience, I can offer my journals that I wrote in while I was abroad, as those truly get into detail about what I was doing.

Based on your experiences abroad, what are some of the benefits of spending a semester abroad? How has studying abroad contributed to your personal, academic, and professional development?

My experience abroad has made me a more open minded, patient, and curious person. It has given me a sense of the scale of our planet and how many people are in it, and just how many opportunities there are to learn about the world we live in, outside our own bubble of comfort.

What advice can you offer for CSB+SJU students who are considering or planning to study abroad?

Make sure to keep a good balance between doing what you need to do to stay in a good mental-health zone and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone to experience new and exciting things.