On November 8, 2020, colleges and universities are encouraged to celebrate the success of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff on campus as part of First-Generation College Celebration! In 2017, the (COE) and the Center for First-generation Student Success launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration. Given the continued success of this event, COE and the Center now partner to make this celebration an annual event.
To celebrate, the CALS 草榴社区 Office interviewed Taylor Berkshire ('18 agronomy, environmental science), a first-generation student who participated in study abroad programs to Antarctica, Austria, Costa Rica, Italy, New Zealand, Poland and South Africa!
What role did study abroad play when you were applying for college?
- It didn鈥檛 play the biggest role as I don鈥檛 recall learning about it when I toured. The wonderful faculty is what drew me in to ISU!
What sparked your interest in study abroad?
- I had only traveled out of the country once before college and I knew I wanted to do it again, but wasn鈥檛 really sure how. One of my classes freshman year mentioned a study abroad course and so I started looking into more and realized what an amazing opportunity it would be to be able to visit another country and have an in-depth introduction to their agricultural systems that I would never get on my own and to also have it all planned out for me. And then once I went on one, I was hooked and loved studying abroad.
Where there any challenges you faced as a first-gen student aspiring to study abroad?
- I would say the big two were financial and hesitancy from parents.
How did you navigate those challenges?
- Financially, there were scholarships available through the 草榴社区 office, as well as my department that helped tremendously and I had a job while in college so I was able to save money from that to help pay for it. The hesitancy from parents was a little more difficult as they had never gone abroad and weren鈥檛 familiar with the program and the safety measures in place for students. I had told them that I was going and provided all the information I could to ease their worries such as providing the various emergency phone numbers, flight plans, and itineraries. I think parents are always going to worry, but I would encourage students to not let that hinder their desire to explore the world, especially in such a safe and curated manner as study abroad is.
What impact did studying abroad have on you and your experience at Iowa State?
- It had an unmeasurable impact. I was able to meet so many new people and friends from different backgrounds that broadened my scope on the world. When you come from a small town, you don鈥檛 know much else except for what the people around you have known their whole life, but when you travel you are exposed to different experiences and ways of life that can impact your perspective on many topics. It also helped me in my academics as I was able to relate to different agricultural or environmental issues around the world that may or may not be the same to the ones faced in Iowa/US. My study abroad experiences are still some of my fondest memories from ISU.
What impact did studying abroad have on your career prospects?
- I think it has helped me in more indirect ways as it helped me become a more well-rounded individual with skill sets that I may not have if it weren鈥檛 for studying abroad such as navigating new situations, speaking to individuals from different backgrounds, and staying calm when things aren鈥檛 going as planned. It has also provided a wonderful ice breaker in many conversations when networking.
What resources would you recommend for a first-gen student wanting to study abroad?
- I would definitely reach out to the study abroad office as they have the knowledge and resources to get you on your way, but also reach out to your department and consider speaking to other students who have gone to see what their experience has been. There are also a wide variety of programs that range in cost, length of time, how far away from the US, and even language differences or not. I don鈥檛 think you could pick a 鈥榖ad鈥� study abroad because they are all wonderful and unique, even if they aren鈥檛 in your field of study.