Student Experiences - Education Abroad

Testimonials

Each year hundreds of Kennesaw State University Students participate in education abroad programs. They travel to countries on every continent enhancing their educations and enriching their understanding of the world. This page allows those students to tell their stories.

Here you will find blogs, videos, and other testimonials from students who have traveled abroad on education abroad programs. Their experiences can potentially inspire other students to pursue an academically challenging and personally rewarding education abroad adventure.

Learn from other students exactly where your education can take you.

Are you a KSU student who wants to share blogs, videos, or photos from your time abroad? Submit your testimonial below or contact us to let us know!

email us

Italy

"To say my trip to Italy was enriching and fun would be an understatement. As an art major, it was surreal to see so many beautiful works from the statue of David by Michelangelo to the frescoes in Pompeii and so much more. I will never forget the vast, lush green from the countryside of Tuscany or the infinite miles of sunflowers I saw when traveling by train. I made so many friends and spoke to so many nice Italian store owners who were proud of their craft and culture. I even met one guy whose family had been making wine for over five-hundred years. The food was even tastier and more diverse than I imagined. I loved pigeon ravioli and can't forget the Stracciatella gelato from Montepulciano. There's so much more I could share, and I would do the trip again in a heartbeat."

Marjorie 鈥淢J鈥� Hsu

Belgium

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to pick just one favorite thing from this semester, so here鈥檚 my top three: immersion in the language/ culture, making new friends, and traveling Europe! Firstly, after learning French for so many years, it has been very fulfilling to put my knowledge to the test in Belgium. I鈥檝e learned so many things that a classroom can鈥檛 cover, like every day slang or niche Belgian folklore. Secondly, I鈥檝e made some great friends from around the world. One of my favorite memories with them being my first Thanksgiving away from home; I hosted a dinner and they got to celebrate their first Thanksgiving ever. Finally, one of the coolest parts of being in Europe has been the ability to travel. So many cool places are a train/plane ride away! Some of my favorite destinations were: Paris, Luxembourg City, Brussels, Rotterdam, and Cologne.鈥�

Bailey Ginn

Greece

alt="Kennesaw State Savannah Tuscl - Ecuador, Summer 2022 Photos"

鈥淢y journey with Global Medical Brigades in Greece was a profoundly transformative chapter of my life, combining my passion for medicine with a commitment to global service. As part of Kennesaw State University鈥檚 chapter, I had the unique opportunity to work alongside local communities, medical professionals, and fellow students to provide essential healthcare services to refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers who had limited access to medical care

We set up clinics in various locations, providing primary medical care, dental services, and health education to hundreds of patients each day. The goal was not only to treat immediate health issues but also to establish a foundation for long-term health improvements in these communities. Working with individuals who had faced immense adversity, I learned to appreciate the resilience of the human spirit and the profound impact of compassionate care.

This journey not only enriched my medical knowledge but also deepened my commitment to serving underserved populations and advocating for sustainable global health solutions. It was a humbling and eye-opening experience that will continue to inspire my future endeavors in medicine and global health."

Anna Preston

Ecuador and the Galapagos

Kennesaw State Kaitlyn Morgan Costa Rica, Spring 2022 Photos

鈥淢y experiences in Ecuador and the Galapagos were transformative. Immersing myself in a different culture, practicing my Spanish, and engaging with local communities expanded my worldview and solidified my desire to make a positive impact through education. I visited a rose farm run by women, which showcased the power of community and collaboration. Witnessing their dedication and resilience inspired me to think about how education can empower individuals and uplift entire communities. Going to Ecuador and the Galapagos this year had a completely different meaning. I realized while in this program that I want to be an educator and show my students the horizon outside the United States and how we can use our privilege from this country to benefit families and businesses in other countries.

Our tour guide, Gustavo, uses small businesses and families within Ecuador to give us an authentic experience of what life is like there while also helping the community benefit. Because of this program, I have dreams of opening my own school in Latin America and using people within the community to bring life to it. I want to work with passionate Latino teachers and create a place everyone can benefit: the children and the community鈥his experience has shaped my career aspirations and reaffirmed my commitment to cultural exchange and global understanding.鈥�

Sidney Agee

England

鈥淚t was so special to be able to visit places that I've heard about and seen pictures of for years. Being able to see these sites in person was unforgettable and being able to do it with other KSU students made it even more special.鈥�

Josh Milton

Peru

Kennesaw State James Pittman Business in Italy, Summer 2022 Photos

鈥淏y immersing myself in Peru's rich culture and history, I gained important cross-cultural insights that expanded my view on psychology and education. Exploring famous landmarks such as the Sacred Valley, Pisac Market, Macchu Picchu, and Ollantaytambo Fortress enriched my knowledge of human progress throughout various societies. This experience improved my educational understanding and increased my confidence in exploring unfamiliar settings and interacting with various groups.

I decided to go overseas to broaden my perspectives and this opportunity has greatly enhanced both my academic growth and personal advancement. I made lifelong friends from KSU who shared this incredible adventure with me. If you're on the fence about studying abroad, take the leap - it's an opportunity you won't regret!鈥�

Cathy Powell

Italy

Kennesaw State Kaitlyn Morgan Costa Rica, Spring 2022 Photo

"After my arrival in Italy, I was totally in awe of the Tuscan Countryside. It was beautiful, mesmerizing, and refreshing. Everything was so green, the air was so fresh, along with the food as well! My Italian apartment was amazing, and it felt incredible to be independent. I learned Italian during class, but I learned even more outside of class in restaurants, the grocery store, etc. Being submersed in the country completely helped me understand the Italian language faster as I heard Italian conversations all day long. The food was so fresh and I was so amazed knowing that a lot of it is from farm to table. The prices in Italy were more than affordable and the service was always top quality. I enjoyed the tours we took across Montepulciano and Florence.

One of my most favorite experiences from this trip was visiting 鈥淭he David鈥�, Michelangelo鈥檚 sculpture created in 1504. To see such art, to eat such food, and to be a student in such a beautiful country was an experience that I will forever be beyond grateful for. Since I鈥檝e come back from Italy, I鈥檝e made Italian Focaccia bread and Panzanlla several times! I鈥檝e continued to study Italian in my spare time, and I鈥檝e already registered to take Italian 1002 during Fall Semester 2024. I have gained so many life skills from being a student in that program, and the experiences I made were once in a lifetime."

Kailah Haynes

Ghana

"I studied abroad in Ghana for three weeks. I have learned so much about other cultures, the richness of Ghana and their customs, and their lifestyle. I lived with a host family during most of my time in Ghana, my host mother and father and two sisters, along with two dogs and 11 kittens. My host family became my own happy family and the relationship I grew with them is like no other. I genuinely enjoyed my time staying with my family, who were understanding, personable, and caring. I have learned so much about their culture through conversation and observation, gender roles differences, marriage roles, and dining roles.

The education I received ignited a spark in me to want to help underrepresented communities that are suffering due to history and the false ideologies people have about these countries. This has developed a new interest in my heart that I want to explore as a potential career, and I thank Ghana for it. I've learned a lot about myself during my time there, including my ability to serve others, make international connections, love for history, and ability to adapt."

Alexis McCowin

Italy

"To say this has been the most fun yet rewarding time in my life is an understatement. Being able to interact with the community and meet new people outside of the United States has been so key to my view on life. Seeing how Italians live vs. Americans has taught me a lot and I will be able to use this for my future career whether I am meeting new clients or business partners outside of the United States or just meeting new people from different countries. Learning a new culture and being submersed in a new country for over a month has given me a new perspective.

I have gained many skills here that I would have otherwise never learned and I am grateful for this opportunity of a lifetime. Whether that's seeing the countless art pieces that Italy has to offer or the culture it offers. From the busy streets of Roma to the quiet town of Montepulciano I have learned something new every single day of this trip all while being in school and earning credit hours towards my degree! This has only been my first study abroad and I hope to be able to study abroad one to two more times in my time at Kennesaw. I believe it is so vital and that is why I am so passionate about studying abroad."

Cade Shull

Switzerland and the Netherlands

"I studied in Geneva, Switzerland and Amsterdam, Netherlands. In Geneva I studied the practices and implementations of various intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations and their agencies that operate within Geneva through both a classroom lecture environment and through practicum during visits to the offices with superbly knowledgeable guides and employees. In one month I learned a great deal about the interconnectedness of the international community and how these agencies world tirelessly to facilitate these efforts and maintain them.

Outside of the classroom setting and visits, I explored various cities within Switzerland and the nearby French cities along the border. In Switzerland, I saw the Alps, hiked Mont Blanc, walked along the meadows, and sailed through the lake, I met incredible people and experienced the city like a local. The knowledge I amassed in lectures would not have been attainable anywhere else, especially with the level of intensity and application. We visited the ICC, listened in to a hearing for the military leaders of Sudan which was obviously a once in a lifetime opportunity. To see everything that we read and learned in the textbooks and through class lectures translate into the real world in both Geneva and Amsterdam were remarkable, it was a true full circle cycle and I appreciated and enjoyed every second of these adventures."

Zain Hyath

色色啦

Testimonials