Student Testimonials for University of Winchester

Kaelen Shay

Age (while abroad): 23

Degree(s): Accounting

Where did you go? Winchester, England

In what school did you study? The University of Winchester

When did you go? Fall 2019 Semester

Have you studied abroad before? No

Would you do this again? 

Absolutely! I’m currently planning my next trip to visit.

What was your favorite part?

Where do I even begin? In some ways I don’t have the words to describe how awesome traveling and studying abroad was. Apart from the friendships I developed at “St. Lizzy’s a.k.a St. Lizzy’s Mafia” my trip to Edinburgh and Ireland were incredible. 

What was your least favorite part?

The conversion rate on currency. The US dollar was worth less than the Pound and Euro.

How has study abroad affected your life now?

It has altered the trajectory of my life and how I perceive everything. Doing so has amplified my gratitude and revealed on a deeper and personal level how blessed I am to be an American.

I am reminded daily how sacred the interactions and moments we share, and experience are because more often than not we don’t fully realize their value until they are gone. Whether it be in the small simple things or large and grand ones, there is something to be gained and had in all of it.

What did you learn, outside of academics, from your study abroad experience?

I learned to live out of my comfort zone–that’s where many of the good things lie. Whether it was big or small I challenged myself to do this. Doing so helped me grow in my capacity as a man, which was one of my primary goals and reasons for going abroad to begin with. The more I did it the better I got and more I gained. I also learned the value and sacredness of time and people and how special it is to be a chapter in other people’s lives and they in yours.

What advice you would offer students interested in studying abroad?

Time is sacred. Go and do it because living the regret of “would have, could have, should have” is too heavy to carry. It’s so important to seize opportunities when they appear and/or doing what’s necessary to make it happen. Set out a plan of where you want to go and what you want to do. Having a framework to work within actually makes the experience more freeing. Be wise, but don’t limit yourself when you go. Go live your life, who you become from it will have a profound effect on you and those you interact with.

Madalyn DeLeon & Elizabeth "Lizzy" King

Ages:

Madalyn DeLeon (20 years old when abroad)

Lizzy King (20 years old when abroad)

Degrees: Elementary Education undergraduate students in the College of Education

Study Abroad: University of Winchester, United Kingdom

When: Spring 2017 semester

What did you like most about studying abroad?

We both loved the town that we studied in and had a really good group of other international friends. To see what it was like to be a minority was a great experience and also getting to explore a new place every day was special

What classes do you take while there? Did these classes coincide with your major?

We studied in Winchester England. We were only able to take 4 courses and two of them coincided with our major which is Elementary Education.

How long were you there for?

The semester lasted about three months but we were overseas for almost four months.

What did you learn, aside from the classes, while studying abroad?

Madalyn- I learned how to be more responsible and mature.

Lizzy- I learned how to be independent and travel on my own.

Since we both are living at home throughout college, we learned how to travel and experience life on our own.

What did you all see when you were there? What was your favorite place?

There was too much! In London we did the typical double decker bus tour and went sightseeing throughout the city. Along with London, we saw Stonehenge and traveled to many little places in England.

Madalyn- Overall, my favorite place was Winchester, however I enjoyed being by the beach in Bournemouth.

Lizzy- My overall favorite was also Winchester, but I really loved our day trip to Jurassic Coast which was a beautiful beach in Durdle Door.

Did you travel outside of the country you stayed in? If so, where did you go?

Yes, we both traveled to Ireland, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

What was the most challenging aspect about traveling abroad?

Madalyn-Going to England I assumed there would not be much of a language barrier considering England and the US both speak English. However, while being there I found it was actually very hard to understand the British accent.

Lizzy-Learning how to travel efficiently and on a college student budget was challenging. Overall, looking back we made the challenges bigger than they needed to be instead of just enjoying it.

Any advice you would offer to students interested in studying abroad?