Lizzie Kowal on Spending Summer in Spain

I did my own research as I really wanted to be in Barcelona. I saw that Binghamton had a program that fit perfectly for me as a SUNY student at UB!

I have always had a fascination with Barcelona and I was obsessed with the vibe the city offers. I love the mix of the Spanish and Catalan culture and the influence Gaudi has in the city really peaked my interest. I studied abroad last year in Salamanca, Spain and I didn’t get the opportunity to go to Barcelona which I regretted so much at the time. Now, I am so happy with my decision and it is my favorite city that I’ve been to abroad!

I was very excited to be able to do this and I felt more confident in myself than I did the first time around! I am proud of myself and I was excited to see the person I would become after leaving Barcelona.

The most important thing I have learned from this experience is that I am more capable of doing things I thought I could never do. I came into this program completely alone, as this program isn’t through UB and I was the only UB student in the program. I had to branch out, travel by myself, navigate the city, interact in another language and do many other things that I wouldn’t have believed if you had told me two years ago. Not to be dramatic, but I feel that I can do anything I put my mind to.

I was a student but also an intern! I was in a conversational Spanish class with an amazing professor and I interned at a co-working space company called, "Monday." I worked the front desk, helped with any issues they might have, ranging from packages, scanning people in, helping out around the building and interacting in Spanish! I am so happy that I was able to do this!

Studying abroad is a great thing within itself, but interning abroad is a completely other thing that sets you apart from many people. Not many people can say that they have interned abroad and I am thankfully a part of the group that can say that. It is such a great opportunity to build your career!

Absolutely go for it! You will never regret studying abroad, however you will regret not studying abroad!

If you do choose to study abroad, I highly recommend Barcelona! It is such a great place to study abroad! Don’t let the bad stories about pickpocketing scare you, as long as you are alert you will be fine!

My mom was a UB student, I thought it was a good idea to stay local while going to a school with a lot of different majors and opportunities.

UB is such a big school, but you are able to interact with so many people from all over the world. In a location such as Buffalo, that is something remarkable coming from someone who was born and raised here.

I was initially planning on majoring in childhood education but I was second guessing myself. Instead, I thought it would be a good idea to get a degree in something I was very passionate about and then get an education masters in the future if I wanted to go back.

I have always been interested in the world and history and this is a degree that combines the two along with another language, international relations, anthropology and communication. I wish more people knew about it, as I find it to be an amazing major. 

I feel that people can relate to someone who didn’t know their place in the world, as I entered UB super unsure of myself and felt out of place. As time goes on, you feel more confident of yourself and your place in this world and I hope others struggling are able to find their place as well.

I want to help bring people together and help people to realize we are more similar than different. I would love to be in multiple countries and be able to connect with people all over the world!

As a native Buffalonian, UB always felt like home. I love that it is a big school with many people to meet, with an amazing network of alumni. UB offers you opportunities that other colleges or universities cannot. 

Have faith in yourself and put your all into everything! Start searching for opportunities as soon as you can! Be involved on campus!