Confidence to navigate the world

When I first stepped off the plane in Valencia, I immediately fell in love when I saw the Mediterranean ocean view and smelled the salty air all around me. The city seemed to hum with life — bells from the cathedral echoing through narrow streets, scooters weaving around corners, and the rhythm of Spanish conversations flowing faster than I could catch at first. I quickly realized this program was going to be more than just a trip abroad; it would be complete immersion into a way of thinking, speaking, and living that would reshape me both academically and personally.

Academically, the program brought the literature I had studied in classrooms to life. Reading Lorca or Rosalía de Castro while walking through plazas and museums deepened my understanding of Spain’s cultural and historical context in ways textbooks never could. Discussions with professors in Valencia pushed me to think critically in Spanish, not just translate thoughts from English. That skill, thinking in another language, is one I know will serve me as I pursue graduate studies and a career that bridges cultures. I will never forget the deep conversations I had in Spanish with my host mother.

On a personal level, Valencia taught me confidence and adaptability. Ordering tapas with friends, navigating bus routes, and meeting locals and other tourists all over the city reminded me that mistakes in communication are not failures but bridges to connection. I learned to embrace vulnerability—stumbling through verb conjugations until suddenly, I realized I was holding full conversations with ease. The first time I cracked a joke in Spanish and heard laughter in response, I knew I had crossed an invisible barrier.

One myth I can bust is the idea that studying abroad is isolating or only for those with advanced fluency. I worried I would struggle to keep up, but instead, I found that locals were patient, encouraging, and often excited to share their language and traditions with me. Far from feeling excluded, I was welcomed—whether into my host family’s kitchen for conversation after dinner or into conversations with locals at the nearby coffee shop.

The host culture taught me that community is built through daily rituals and family values: the late-night walks alongside the locals, the café con leche with family before class, and the unhurried cenas that would stretch for hours. I carry home not only improved Spanish but also a new appreciation for slowing down and connecting with people.

For students considering studying abroad, especially students from an underrepresented ethnic group like me, I want them to know that it’s not only possible, but transformative. I returned with sharper academic skills, a clearer sense of career direction, and a deeper confidence in my ability to navigate the world. Most importantly, I returned with a new home that will never leave my heart: Valencia.

• Name: Nicole Roque
• Status: Senior
• Major: Neuroscience
• Hometown: Grosse Ile, Michigan
• Program: Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture in Valencia