Help me fund my Study Abroad trip to Japan!

Kate Rangel Start Date: Feb 3, 2024 - End Date: May 17, 2024

My Travel Story

by: Kate Rangel Start Date: Feb 3, 2024 - End Date: May 17, 2024
The program that I intend to participate in will allow students to travel to Japan to study intercultural and popular culture communication. We will be able to culturally immerse ourselves in other cultures an learn the importance of diversity, while also learning how it can bring us together.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to travel the world, but I've never thought it to be possible with my hopes of also attending school, and trying to balance both at the same time was never something I saw to be feasible. I believe the Study Abroad program is one that allows me to do both.

I have chosen this program because I hope to further learn the importance of different cultures and traditions to broaden my horizons and create deeper connections with others. I want to be able to push myself out of my own comfort zone and immerse myself in different cultures and practices, because I find them so beautiful. Not only that, but I hope to use Study Abroad to connect better with people from all walks of life, and hopefully, use the things that I learn in any and all of my future careers.

Furthermore, growing up as a figure skater, with many of my friends and skating idols being Japanese, I have known Japan to be a place full of discipline, respect, empathy, and meaningful connections. All of these practices are ones that I would love to learn and immerse myself in, in hopes of also spreading these values to those around me.

As I stated, I want to use the things I learn in my future career, and I have hopes of becoming a pediatrician in the future. This program will be greatly beneficial because I believe it is important to be able to create a deeper connection and build trust with the people I plan to care for. Allowing myself to learn about different cultures and the importance of communication is definitely a step in the right direction. I believe that learning about different cultures and how to communicate with others is important for anyone to learn, but as I plan to build a career in health care, I believe that it is especially important for me, as I want to be able to offer help to any and every person that needs it.

Additional Information:
- I am a first-generation college student
- I am Hispanic/Latinx
- I have a 3.76 GPA
- I am a part of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
- I am currently attending a 4-year college