“It was important for me to go abroad because, as someone born and raised in Ohio, I feel the need to broaden my horizons beyond what I know. Studying abroad and immersing myself in other cultures gives me the opportunity to educate myself and improve my understanding of society as a whole,” reflected Della Johnson, an environmental sciences major on the Iceland: Environment and Natural Resources experience.
Led by the School of Environmental and Natural Resources, students explore a country with unique and diverse environmental advantages as well as problems, while examining how the culture deals with environmental issues similar to those found in the United States.
“From this experience, I have definitely learned that I am more persistent than I thought I was. Though this program was tough sometimes, with all the constant travel and hiking, I stayed positive and participated throughout. My newfound tenacity really allowed me to enjoy every moment to the fullest!”
In addition to learning about environmental issues, students explore industries such as fishing, whaling and Icelandic tourism while voyaging to national parks with unusual features such as geysers, glaciers and hot springs to hike and swim.
“Every person on my program was so kind and encouraging and, as we climbed up and over glistening waterfalls and circled awe-inspiring volcanoes, we were able to lean on one another and truly appreciate everything to an even fuller extent. Iceland has some of the most uniquely beautiful landscapes on Earth,” said Johnson.
“I will always remember the places I journeyed in Iceland and the confidence in myself I gained along the way. This trip really did far more than bolster my knowledge of environmental science and geology and history. For me, at least, it broadened my horizons and enlightened me on opportunities that I never even considered possible, like the notion of possibly moving abroad to a country like Iceland for my future career.”