Best Honors Experience:
Study Abroad in Costa Rica
Introduction
One of my favorite experiences as an honors student was a study abroad program based in Uvita, Costa Rica during the Spring of 2023. The focus of the program was service learning and sustainability, and we learned about and contributed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We heard from locals about ways we can reduce our impact on our environment and made informative signs (in English and Spanish) to protect local wildlife. While this was an amazing experience for my educational growth, it also personally impacted me in tremendous ways. This program was my first time traveling out of the country, and I did not know any of the other participants before leaving. This really forced me outside of my comfort zone, especially as a first-year student who had already recently experienced so many new things. To be completely honest, I was really scared before leaving for this program because I didn't know what to expect. Instead, I ended up building a community with the other honors students in the program and made memories that I will never forget. The images on the poster below are representative of that community, what I learned through the program, and a glimpse into my time in Costa Rica.
Artifact: SDG Poster
As mentioned, the overarching theme of the program was the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During and following our time abroad, we worked in a group project to focus on 4 of the goals and what the look like in Uvita, Costa Rica. The goal was to use our own experience along with additional research to develop the poster to shown. The final class session involved the presentation of our poster and ideas.
Skills Developed
The most applicable skills that I gained through this program were cultural competencies and adaptability. Studying abroad in Uvita, Costa Rica helped me grow both culturally and personally. Through service-learning focused on sustainability and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, I learned how important it is to approach environmental work with cultural humility and respect for local knowledge. Listening to community members and creating bilingual educational signs pushed me to think carefully about audience, communication, and the impact of our work. This experience truly shaped my perspective upon returning home.
Because it was my first time traveling out of the country, and with people I had never met, I had to quickly adapt to new environments, routines, and relationships. What initially felt intimidating became an opportunity to build confidence, resilience, and meaningful connections. This experience strengthened my ability to step outside my comfort zone, remain open-minded, and adjust to unfamiliar situations with curiosity and flexibility.
Reflection
When I entered college, I was extremely timid and unsure about unfamiliar situations. Studying abroad in Costa Rica during my first year challenged that version of me in every way. It was my first time leaving the country, my first time living in a completely new environment, and my first time building community with people I had never met before. I was genuinely scared before going, but I went anyway. That decision marked the beginning of a major shift in perspective.
Through that experience, I learned that taking a leap of faith can be incredibly rewarding, and being outside of my comfort zone transformed me into a more confident person. That mindset followed me home and gave me the confidence to pursue two additional study abroad programs, opportunities I likely would have talked myself out of prior to this experience.
Now, as I prepare to start medical school this fall, I recognize how significant that transformation has been. I am no longer afraid to step outside of my comfort zone. In fact, I expect to seek out those opportunities. Whether it is engaging with patients from diverse backgrounds, navigating new clinical environments, or advocating for others, I hope to approach unfamiliar situations with curiosity rather than fear. What once felt overwhelming now feels so rewarding.