Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity for all students to study, explore, and grow in a new location. It can be a life-changing experience. Lake Forest offers 250 options (domestic and international) in 70 different countries.
Lake Forest student-athletes regularly take a break from life on campus to study abroad for a semester. Five such individuals—three who are returning who traveled during the fall semester and two who are looking forward to studying abroad in the spring—spoke about their travels and impending trips.
Natalia Leite of women’s tennis, Bliss Pekkala of women’s lacrosse, and track’s Becca Ray were away from campus during the Fall ’22 semester. Leite, who was in Barcelona, Spain, said the best part of her time abroad was “travelling to so many different places and getting to know such different cultures during these three months. It has been such an amazing opportunity to experience so many great moments in such a little time.” She added, “My time abroad has made me a more resilient and well-rounded person, as all the different places and cultures I got to know allowed me to develop myself.”
Pekkala traveled to Finland. “My dad’s family was originally from Finland, and I figured it would be a great opportunity to travel to a country I’ve never been to and learn a little more about my heritage,” she said. “I learned a lot about myself as I decided to study in a completely new country in a new environment. I became much more independent as well I grew culturally as I had to learn the basics in Finnish as many people do not speak English.”
“I want to go to graduate school abroad, and education in Denmark is very holistic, accessible, and excellent. I also just love the lifestyle in Scandinavia, and Copenhagen is a beautiful city,” said Ray, who studied in Denmark for the semester. When asked how she grew from the experience, she added, “I learned what things I am most interested in, and what kind of people I like to have in my life. Most importantly, I gained confidence in travelling to new places which I can use for future adventures.”
All three women encourage those who are thinking of studying abroad to do so.
“There most likely won’t be another time in your life,” said Leite.
“Absolutely do it! It was the best decision I ever made,” Pekkala added.
“If you're considering studying abroad, do it,” Ray said. “Even if you can't study abroad for a full semester, any kind of travel is so important for learning about the world and yourself.”
Following their advice, Ella Manthey and Ashley Birnesser of women’s soccer are looking forward to their upcoming study abroad semesters this spring.
Manthey is headed to Ghent, Belgium to study at Artevelde University of Applied Sciences. She chose the location because “of the business program offered at the university and because it's located near many countries I want to travel to.”
Birnesser will head down under to Dunedin, New Zealand. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful places on Earth while getting to study at a globally recognized institution,” she said.
When asked about what she hopes to gain from the experience, Manthey said, “I hope that this will be an opportunity for personal growth. I will be living on my own in a new country, so this will be a major test for me, but I think it will help me gain a lot of confidence and independence.”
“I hope to gain a better understanding of the culture of the indigenous people (The Māori) of New Zealand, which has strong ties to the land. I hope to develop a greater appreciation of the natural world that we are lucky to have and learn more about the environmentally friendly way of life that is extra important for an island nation,” Birnesser said, when asked the same question.
Manthey is looking forward to “traveling and immersing myself in new cultures wherever I go. I'm excited that I have this opportunity to see new things and make great memories that I will look back on in the future.”
And Birnesser can’t wait to “make new friends from around the world and explore every inch of New Zealand that I can. I hope to go backpacking, visit lots of national parks, and swim in the ocean. I am also excited to see penguins at the beach!”