Communication and Culture in Guatemala

Erica Smith Start Date: Mar 2, 2018 - End Date: Jun 9, 2018
  • Guatemala

My Travel Story

by: Erica Smith Start Date: Mar 2, 2018 - End Date: Jun 9, 2018
Dear friends and family, 

I am so excited to inform you all that this summer, I will be studying abroad in Guatemala for 5 weeks! 

From a young age, I have always dreamed of studying abroad. I would constantly burden my mother with ideas of saving sea turtles in Australia or following my ancestral lineage in Ireland. I love the idea of immersing myself in a culture that I am not rooted in, and there is so much to learn from every individual on this planet. With that being said, there is nothing that I would love more than to turn my childhood dream into my reality.

This five-week experience means more to me than simply a trip overseas. This opportunity carries so much value and so many learning opportunities that I cannot possibly have in a traditional classroom setting. I am deeply interested in the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture that differs from my own, and there is so much that I will learn from the Guatemalan experience. There is truly no better time or backdrop for exploring communication and culture. I am so excited that this program offers coursework required for my major—while I was already excited to take these classes, having an immersive opportunity in Guatemala will make the learning experience that much richer.

As a current student of Junior status, I have learned so much from my experiences and opportunities at Ball State University. I am a full-time college student as well as an employee at Red Lobster. Between juggling 30-hour work weeks and an eighteen-credit course load, I also am the social media and promotions director of the communication studies honor society, Lambda Pi Eta. I have worked hard to avoid the accumulation of debt in college, and although I have a long way to go, I am proud of the strides that I am making as an individual and as a student. However, the burden of paying for my college tuition myself has not left in a position in which I cold fully fund this experience abroad by myself.

Immersing myself in the Guatemalan culture for five weeks is a once in a lifetime experience. If I can afford this trip financially, there will be nothing stopping me from immersing myself in the Guatemalan culture. This beautiful culture is rich and unique, and I am humbled to be among the students that are studying abroad this summer. I will look forward to representing Ball State and my community with respect, thoughtfulness, and integrity, and I can’t wait to find ways to use my experience to make the world I’m living in a better place for all of us.
  • Guatemala