KNOXVILLE — Courtney Daly, a junior in public relations at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said her five-month study abroad trip to Australia allowed her to make friends from several countries, explore different lifestyles and share her common interests and ideas with her new friends.
Now a peer advisor for the Programs Abroad Office, Daly encourages other students to find their own life-changing adventures through study abroad.
The perfect place to start, she said, is the Study Abroad Fair.
The Study Abroad Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29 in the University Center ballroom. The fair will provide a one-stop shop for students to learn about the study abroad process, study abroad programs and financial aid options offered through UT and the Programs Abroad Office.
“The Study Abroad Fair is a great opportunity to get a feel for all the programs we offer and talk to other students who have been abroad,” Daly said. “Often-times students think studying abroad is not possible for everyone because of finances or credits, but we want to show everyone that it is possible and the fair is a great chance to get all those questions answered. There is a program out there for everyone and the study abroad fair can help students find the perfect one.”
Fellow peer adviser Kavon Togrye agrees.
“The experience is such a character builder,” said Togrye, a senior in finance and international business, who spent five months in Vienna, Austria, studying international business and German.
“Studying abroad will build self confidence in a way you never knew possible,” he said. “You have to force yourself into situations and places where you might not feel comfortable all the time and overcoming this can be very rewarding.”
Fair-goers can talk with other UT students who have studied abroad, as well as international students currently studying at UT.
UT faculty leading summer and mini-term programs abroad also will be on hand to talk about their programs.
The Programs Abroad Office offers study abroad programs in 54 countries. Programs are available for the semester, the academic year and the summer. Mini-term options also are available. In addition, summer internship opportunities are offered in countries around the globe.
Representatives from UT advising centers will be at the fair to discuss how studying abroad fits into a four-year graduation plan.
The Ready for the World program will have a booth where students can learn about the university’s international and intercultural initiative, find ways to participate in Volunteers Rock the World and pick up some freebies.
“From the moment I arrived in Vienna, I was surrounded by a totally different culture and language,” Togrye said. “Learning to speak German and live as an Austrian really gave me a new perspective on life and the world. As Americans we tend to only look inward and forget about the rest of the world.”
Daly agreed: “Studying abroad gives you a chance to learn about yourself and grow as a person. I have talked to so many adults that regret not studying abroad in college. I think it is something that everyone should do, and the fair is the perfect chance for students to get their feet wet and see what we have to offer.”
The Programs Abroad Office will be closed the day of the fair. For more information about studying abroad, visit the Programs Abroad Office website, http://studyabroad.utk.edu/.
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CONTACT:
Bridget Hardy (865-974-2225, bhardy4@utk.edu)