Carmen Black (Class of 2017)

• junior honors triple major in International Studies, Strategic Communication, and Comparative Media Studies
• minor in Spanish
• from Greenwood, IN
• member of the Miami University Collegiate Chorale
• traveled to Colombia during Winter Term 2015 to study culture and film
• traveled to Spain during Summer 2015 to study intensive Spanish language and culture
• swam with bioluminescent plankton and hiked the Camino de Santiago

Studying abroad in Colombia and later in Spain this summer opened my eyes to the differences in culture, and it really illustrated to me that the American way of thinking is absolutely by no means the only way of thinking. I saw a great emphasis on family and community in Colombia and Spain, and I gained a new appreciation for people who live differently than we do.

Why Miami?

"The atmosphere and spirit of Miami were a huge draw for me. When I visited this beautiful campus for the first time, everyone was incessant on what it means to be a Miamian, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. I remember thinking, 'If I really have to take 8:30 am classes, this is the place to do it!'

"I was accepted into Miami's honors program, and at the time I was planning to be a Zoology and pre-med major. Being offered the chance to live in the honors dorm my freshman year was a big factor in my decision, and I've found the honors program to be an incredible opportunity since I've been here. It challenges me academically while giving me a skill set that I can apply to future career opportunities.

"Miami also does a good job of helping you find your place on campus through the Living Learning Communities. They've been critical to my success and will continue to help me during my years as an upperclassman.

"Though my zoology and pre-med classes were interesting, I ultimately decided against being a doctor. My family has a legacy of medical majors, and I was interested in seeing what other career paths were out there. I decided to test the waters, and during the summer after my freshman year I started looking through different classes that sounded interesting to me."

Best Miami Experiences

"Being part of the honors program and living in an honors dorm have helped me create a positive community here at Miami. Whenever I walk to class the beauty of the campus makes me happy to know that this is my home.

"Since my freshman year I've been a part of the Miami University Collegiate Chorale, which is a mixed vocal ensemble that has helped me connect with upperclassmen as well as people in my year and make lots of great friends. I'm also in a sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, which is a really exciting because it's given me countless opportunities that otherwise I wouldn't have, as well as amazing friends. It's been another resource that has provided me with many opportunities and connections to other students.

"I'd always been interested in Miami's study abroad opportunities and knew that I wanted to travel during winter term. I had previously been to Australia and New Zealand, so I was looking to go somewhere culturally different. That's when I discovered the study abroad trip to Colombia, which took place this past January.

"Then, this summer, I studied abroad in Spain for 8 weeks with the Miami in Spain program. I lived in Gijón with a host family and took classes during the weekdays, and on long weekends I was able to visit Ireland, Paris, and Mallorca! After the first 6 weeks, I joined fellow students to hike and bike the famous Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage across the north of Spain that dates back to the 11th century. It was an honor to go on this amazing, difficult, and humbling journey. During my final week, I traveled around the Spanish cities of Granada, Toledo, and Sevilla, speaking Spanish almost exclusively to the point that today I feel completely confident in my Spanish skills. After having visited Colombia in January, Spain further opened my eyes to the world and reminded me that travel and exploration is a critical part of being human and becoming a better person. I'm so thankful for my travel experiences and wouldn't change a thing."

Miami and the Liberal Arts

"Switching majors after my freshman year, I ended up taking journalism, communications, public speaking, and media & culture classes. I felt they developed my knowledge and exposure to things happening around me today that could be directly applied to the society we live in. That's incredibly important and incredibly neat.

"The liberal arts have opened my mind. My professors are giving me the tools to go out into the real world as a prepared and well-rounded person, and I find it rewarding to be able to have an educated conversation with them about events happening around the world right now. In my opinion, that is better then just being able to recite facts! It's also refreshing to be working with really intelligent and self-motivated students and staff who want to see you do well and are willing to help you when you need it.

"The liberal arts also pave the way for multiple career paths, which is especially true for my majors. The coursework feeds into many facets in the occupational spectrum, and I'm excited to have many open doors to explore and try out."

Study Abroad Experience in Cartagena Colombia

"In January 2015 I participated on a study abroad trip called Culture and Film in Cartagena, Colombia, which was administered by professors Kerry Hegarty and Ana María Díaz Burgos. This was the mind-opening trip for me, and I was able to gain real-world experience while also gaining credits to satisfy Spanish and international studies requirements.

"In Colombia I took classes during the day and stayed with a host family. We were encouraged to speak Spanish exclusively, which was intimidating because I hadn't spoken it for more than a two-hour class period. Yet everyone was very encouraging and friendly. Our classes contained a lot of culture and history, which allowed us to travel and experience things firsthand.

"We also had time to do things on our own, like taking a trip out to a neighboring island to go snorkeling. I swam with bioluminescent plankton, which turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life!

"Studying abroad in Colombia and later in Spain this summer opened my eyes to the differences in culture, and it really illustrated to me that the American way of thinking is absolutely by no means the only way of thinking. I saw a great emphasis on family and community in Colombia and Spain, and I gained a new appreciation for people who live differently than we do.

"At the same time, the trips also made me appreciate my life as a United States citizen so much more. I've realized how fortunate we are here, even if you don't agree with everything that happens in this country. Things could be much worse, and it opened my eyes to the different ways people live in the world."

Advice to Students

"My advice to other students is to get involved on campus, especially with extra-curricular activities and study-abroad opportunities. This will greatly enriched your college experience and moreover, it will change your life!

"I was extremely nervous about going to Colombia at first, since it's a country with a foreign language and culture, and it was definitely out of my comfort zone. However, the trip made me reevaluate how easily we accept stereotypes, and it has increased my understanding of the world outside of the United States and was a really impactful experience.

"It's important that you take the time to seek out and pursue opportunities. If you stay in your comfort zone your whole life, you're going to be disappointed in the end, so there's no better time to do it than now!"

[February 2015]