I interviewed Pitt Junior Nicole Silva who is a Global Ambassador of the International Studies Abroad at Pitt. After studying abroad herself, Nicole was chosen from many applicants to be a representative on campus to mentor those interested in studying abroad. If you are considering studying abroad, Nicole is the girl to talk to! Read on for information and advice on studying abroad or becoming a Global Ambassador.
HC: What exactly is the International Studies Abroad company?
NS: International Studies Abroad, or “ISA” for short, has been helping students in the US and Canada study abroad for 25 years. ISA allows opportunities for students to have high quality education abroad opportunities at an affordable price. They raise the importance of the worldwide effort to increase awareness of cultures and societies outside of the student’s own.
HC: What does it mean to be an ambassador?
NS: As a Global Ambassador, I am an alumnus of an ISA study abroad program, and my job is to represent ISA on Pitt’s campus and be a mentor for those who wish to study abroad and are still deciding on what program to choose. I am ISA’s only rep on campus, and it’s my job to promote their wonderful opportunities to our community.
HC: How did you get involved with this?
NS: I absolutely had the time of my life during my Study Abroad Program last summer, and I became so passionate about the idea of studying abroad as well as global awareness that I decided I wanted to promote this opportunity to other students because I feel that it is truly a life-changing experience in the best way possible.
HC: What is the process of becoming an Ambassador?
NS: To be an ambassador, you must have participated in an ISA study abroad program, submit an application, CV, and participate in about two interviews with ISA, and then they choose who will be the Global Ambassador for the University. I was lucky enough to have gotten the opportunity out of all the other candidates for this position.
HC: Where have you studied abroad?
NS: Well, if you haven’t seen my insane amounts of Facebook photos and #tbt instagrams about my study abroad, I studied abroad in Florianópolis, an island off of the coast on the state Santa Catarina in Brazil. During my Study Abroad experience, I took intensive Portuguese classes and continued to master the language, as well as a Brazilian Culture Class. I also volunteered at a local church and taught adults and children English. I visited many parts of Brazil during my two-month period of Study Abroad including Rio de Janeiro (during the World Cup Final Game, of course), Blumenau, and Foz do Iguaçu (one of the seven wonders of the world). It was a wonderful experience, and I really grew as a person as cliché as that might sound.
HC: Where else would you like to travel in the future?
NS: I would love to backpack through Europe once I graduate college, and I want to return to Brazil for a while especially to see the North of the country, an area called Bahia, as well as visit the neighboring Latin American countries.
HC: What would you say to a student interested in but unsure about studying abroad?
NS: I know I was very anxious and worried about Study Abroad. It’s a huge leap to be able to go to a different country and have to adapt to speaking in another language and living in a different culture. However, that’s the most amazing aspect about the experience. When you study abroad and you are required to adapt and immerse yourself in a culture other than your own, that is when you really grow as a person and start to have a different outlook on life. In fact, statistics show that people who study abroad and immerse themselves in cultures that are not their own, allows for better career success across any range of professions because you learn how to converse and interact with different individuals. Right now it might seem cliché, but it’s so much more than that. I would highly encourage students to study abroad because you learn a lot about yourself as an individual; you learn that there is so much more out there that you can discover and experience, and in return you gain confidence and knowledge for your future endeavors. It’s an unforgettable experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life.
If you would like any information about ISA study abroad programs you can email Nicole at nas166@pitt.edu and visit their website.
Image Credit: Photos taken from Nicole’s Facebook page