DePaul students travel the globe over break

While some were soaking up the sun in posh resorts or squeezing in a few extra hours at work, two groups of lucky freshmen were traipsing around the world. DePaul’s FY@broad program took DePaul freshmen to Ireland and Jordan. In both cultural and social aspects, FY@broad offers freshmen a unique opportunity to sample the experience of studying abroad in one short week while making priceless memories and friends in the process.

From a flair for travel to an irresistible intrigue, there are several reasons why freshmen decided to pursue the program. Freshman Whitney Williams, undecided, held the same sentiment as many students enrolled in the program. Williams said of her decision to travel to Jordan, “I had never traveled outside of North America and I thought this was a great way to learn about traveling abroad.”

Williams’ answer is not uncommon amongst freshmen students. One of the purposes of FY@broad is to expose students to the many benefits and opportunities that studying abroad has to offer. Not only did students travel to the far corners of the world, but they also took a class to prepare for the trip and better understand the culture that they would soon be immersed in. Students traveling to Jordan took a history-focused class while those traveling to Ireland learned about travel literature and its impact on Irish tourism.

The corresponding classes served to give students a frame of reference to use throughout the course of the trip. Lessons in class were often incorporated in on-site assignments and influenced the trip itinerary. FY@broad Ireland students attended an Irish literature lecture by a professor from the University of Galway and visited memorials commemorating great Irish writers like Oscar Wilde. Students in Jordan explored the exotic and historic city of Amman.

While committing to a class and a trip, the destination was a major decision, as well. With Jordan and Ireland as spring break options and Germany as a summer option, students had a few tough decisions to make. After considering studying abroad in Europe, freshman history student Tess Kilbane Myers had a change of heart.

“I had thought about going to Ireland and Germany, but I knew that I would be in Europe again. Going to Jordan provided a trip of a lifetime,” Myers said.

Studying in Jordan opened many doors for Myers that she had never imagined.

“In going to the Middle East, I am now considering pursuing studying abroad in Africa and Asia as opposed to Europe,” she said of her future plans to study abroad.

Aside from an enriching travel experience, undecided freshman Lori Dilger came home with something else in tow.

“It is unbelievable the way in which a group of students with such different personalities can bond while traveling together. The trip was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, in which I made unforgettable memories and friendships,” she said.

From unexpected friends to extraordinary memories, FY@broad instilled a cultural frame of mind on freshmen and translated lessons from the classroom into new contexts. With a wealth of opportunities at DePaul students’ disposals, a spring break can be much more than a time to catch up on sleep and make a couple bucks—it can be a life-altering experience.