“I’ve learned that I’m more independent and adaptable than I realized. Moving to a new country and constantly being in unfamiliar situations has pushed me to trust myself more and be okay with uncertainty. It’s also shown me how much I value new experiences and how much I’ve grown just by saying yes to things that felt intimidating at first,” reflected Maya Deutch, a psychology major who is currently abroad on the AIFS Study + Internship program in Rome, Italy.
Deutch is taking classes in Italy and interning with Mindhamok, a mental health agency that supports study abroad students.
“Travel has always been a big part of my life because my family has always valued seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. Going abroad felt important to me because I wanted the chance to fully immerse myself somewhere new, gain a different perspective on the world and push myself out of my comfort zone. I’ve also really loved the independence that comes with building a life for yourself in another country,” said Deutch.
Working with a mental health agency while living abroad has given Deutch an interesting perspective and has allowed her to examine psychology from a broader lens, skills that will help her as she moves forward in her career.
“As a psychology major, this experience has shown me how much culture shapes the way people experience and talk about mental health. It’s also helped me build communication skills, flexibility and empathy, which I know will be important in my career,” she noted.
Along with getting to travel to new countries on the weekends and experience the diversity of several new cultures, Deutch says that her other favorite memories come from the people she’s met along the way.
“My favorite moments have definitely been meeting the people in my program and getting to share this experience with them. I’ve also loved going on runs in new places because it’s become one of my favorite ways to explore a city.”