Abroaden Your Horizons

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, SCU junior Jessica Summons takes us along her study abroad journey in Rome, Italy with the John Felice Rome Center as an Accounting major. Stepping into a new country and culture, Jessica shares what it was like navigating the rhythms of daily life in Rome while learning to approach the city with cultural awareness and respect for local communities. From mastering public transportation to discovering hidden corners of the Eternal City, she reflects on how each experience helped her grow more confident and independent far from home. 

She also opens up about how immersing herself in the local culture through food, language, and everyday interactions, along with getting involved on campus, created a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar place. Whether it was finding comfort in solo adventures or stepping outside her comfort zone to meet new people, Jessica highlights the moments that shaped her experience. Along the way, she built meaningful, lasting friendships with fellow students and people from around the world, ultimately transforming her time abroad into a journey of personal growth, connection, and self-discovery.

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, we’re joined by Pranav Bhargava, a junior at Santa Clara University, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Music. Pranav studied abroad at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where his journey became a transformative blend of growth, cultural immersion, and musical discoveries.

Pranav reflects on how studying abroad deepened his self-awareness and ignited a stronger passion for music. He highlights music’s power to build connections, not only with strangers but also across new cultures.

He also shares how the slower pace of life in New Zealand allowed him to stay fully present and savor every moment, all while managing a full course load. As the only American in his Jazz class, Pranav experienced a unique cultural exchange that balanced immersion with the support of his program group.

Encouraging other students to embrace the wonders of New Zealand, Pranav reminds our listeners that one's experience abroad is shaped by their own choices—whether that means exploring breathtaking landscapes or starting a band to connect with others.

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, we’re joined by Santa Clara University student Gema Sanchez, a senior majoring in Public Health Science with minors in Political Science and Anthropology. She studied abroad at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Gema shares her journey of studying abroad late in college despite initial anxieties about missing out on campus life. She discusses her academic insights gained from studying Thai foreign policy and adapting to a new political and cultural environment. She opens up about adjusting to a new country, navigating language barriers, and reveals how building local connections created a powerful sense of belonging. Her story is an invitation for other students to explore unconventional destinations abroad and leverage these experiences for meaningful personal and professional growth.

In this Abroaden Your Horizons, we’re joined by Santa Clara University student Sophia Alvarenga, a Communications major with a Marketing minor. She studied abroad in Sorrento, Italy, at the Sant’Anna Institute.

In this episode, Sophia reflects on the transformative experience of studying abroad. She opens up about the challenges and triumphs that shaped her growth, sharing how navigating life in a new country pushed her beyond her comfort zone and fostered her adaptability.

Sophia delves into the dual nature of her journey - the professional development she gained through her work on the communications team, and the profound personal growth that came from cultural immersion. She offers reflections on the importance of building meaningful connections. Her journey highlights how studying abroad isn't just about travel - it's about discovering your own strength and capacity for growth when you're willing to step into the unknown.

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, we’re joined by Santa Clara University student Nelly Calderon, a Marketing major with a minor in International Business. Nelly shares her unforgettable journey spending a semester abroad in Milan, Italy, and then diving into a six-week internship in the streets of Barcelona, Spain.

Unlike a typical study abroad story, Nelly shares how she went beyond the classroom from navigating the Dolce & Gabbana empire as part of a class project to unexpectedly filling in as a substitute teacher at an academy - all while mastering the art of international business etiquette.

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, we’re joined by Santa Clara University student Angelee Caballero, a Public Health major with minors in French and Francophone Studies and Latinx Studies. She studied abroad in Christchurch, New Zealand. Angelee shares how living and learning in Aotearoa deepened her understanding of place, identity, and community. 

Through learning and sharing her pepeha, Angelee reflects on the importance of grounding oneself in the land and the ways nature, culture, and history intersect in everyday life. From exploring New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes to finding moments of stillness and self-growth beyond the classroom, her story highlights how studying abroad can foster intentional living, cultural respect, and a deeper sense of belonging.

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, we’re joined by Santa Clara University students Emma Hatfield, a Neuroscience major with Spanish and Biology minors, and Celeste Mancilla, a Political Science and Spanish double major with minors in Urban Education and Latin American Studies. We talk about their semester in Salamanca, Spain, and how choosing a language immersion program made all the difference.

Emma and Celeste share the highs, the hurdles, and the cultural mix-ups that came with diving headfirst into the Spanish language and culture. From classrooms that started to feel like family, to diving deeper into their identities and interests, to surprisingly missing the chaos of airports—they reflect on how their time in Spain stretched their comfort zones in all the best ways.

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, we’re joined by Santa Clara University student Huy Ngo, a Computer Science and Engineering major with a minor in Real Estate, who studied abroad at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. From juggling a demanding STEM course load on campus to embracing a culture rooted in respect and mindfulness, Huy shares how he adapted to life in Thailand both in and out of the classroom. We dive into his adventures traveling across Southeast Asia, getting scuba dive certified, working with elephants, and immersing himself in the region’s rich natural and cultural diversity.

Along the way, Huy reflects on learning the Thai language, building new friendships, and finding confidence through pushing past his comfort zone. His story is a testament to the power of an adventurous spirit and the unexpected ways studying abroad can expand not just your worldview, but your sense of self.

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, we’re joined by Santa Clara University students Fernando Salvador Francisco, a Communication major with a focus in filmmaking and a minor in technical theater, and Lindsey Gebhardt, a Chemistry major. These two close friends studied abroad on opposite sides of the globe- literally- in Cork, Ireland, and Auckland, New Zealand (yes, they even tested the distance!). 

We dive into their unique journeys, navigating culture shock, finding community abroad, and readjusting to life back home—all while staying connected from thousands of miles apart. They also reflect on what led them to study abroad: Lindsey, whose mom's own global adventures inspired her, and Francisco, a first-generation college student forging his own path. Their story is a celebration of friendship, growth, and the unexpected ways that studying abroad can shape who you become.

In this episode of Abroaden Your Horizons, SCU Junior Sam Balough takes us inside her study abroad adventure in Barcelona with IES as a Psychology major. She shares how she learned to explore the city with respect for local communities, what it was like living far from home for the first time, how she found comfort in solo adventures, and the friendships she built with fellow SCU students and beyond.