“Any experience that puts a person outside of their comfort zone prepares them for a career caring for others. There is something about interacting with people totally different than yourself and doing it with an open heart and mind that is valuable to the workforce. I plan to become an occupational therapist that carries these experiences and interactions with me so I can better serve my patients,” reflected Brynn Stewart, a health sciences major on the Australia: Human Impacts on the Natural Environment study abroad program.
The program offers students a complete view of the unique wildlife and ecosystems within the state of Queensland in the country’s northeast, such as tropical rainforests, reefs and the Outback. Family and a desire for self-exploration inspired Stewart to go abroad.
“It was important for me to go abroad because I wanted to test my confidence and appetite for learning on the global scale. My mom has always emphasized seeking experiences over material goods. I think this advice has really shaped the person I am today. What better experience and way to test myself than traveling to the other side of the world with 30 people I've barely met?”
A unique part of the program is the homestay, where the group lives with local families for several days to get a realistic look at what life is like in Australia and how these people are affected by conservation practices. For Stewart, a particularly memorable moment was snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and examining the incredible wildlife firsthand.
“It was memorable for two reasons. One, I have a slight fear of the ocean and deep waters. It took me a second to build up the courage to look underwater. Once I did, I noticed something. The creatures didn't care about me in the slightest. They all coexisted in a dynamic flow that was beautiful to observe. I realized that if I just let them do their thing and observe in peace, there was nothing to be afraid of. I think this is true of life as well. Observing your surroundings peacefully and coexisting with the world is a beautiful way to live,” she shared.