We Promise You Discovery
A few years ago, I returned to France, where I had studied abroad during my sophomore year at Saint Mary’s. Several friends and I spent five wonderful days in Angers, a city that had a profound impact on our college experience and our lives. Because we had immersed ourselves in the culture during our year abroad, this trip didn’t feel like a vacation. Instead, it felt like a trip … home.
My year abroad eventually led me to where I am today, a member of the Global Education Office at Saint Mary’s, helping current students embark on their own life-changing experiences abroad. The office currently offers 20 programs in 17 different countries, located in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Among these is a new program in Cyprus specifically designed to allow nursing students to take two required courses for their major while spending a semester abroad. We are also building a program in Japan, which focuses on women’s leadership and career development. “Exposing students to other cultures is a great way for them to understand how to engage across differences,” said Becca Méndez, Director of Global Study and Experience.
For me, the program truly fulfilled the promise of Saint Mary’s.
- -Catherine Kirkpatrick ’19
the discovery of yourselves…
What we hear most from students returning from study abroad is the incredible personal growth they experienced. Mary McKenna ’25, a psychology major who studied in the Maynooth, Ireland program said, “I learned a tremendous amount about myself through this experience. I gained so much confidence and independence, and it opened my eyes to countless new perspectives and opportunities. Studying abroad was the best decision I have ever made, and I am continuing to grow into the person I want to be because of it.”
the discovery of the universe…
After they return, students regularly share how much they learned about the world. “My time abroad has given me unforgettable memories of the beauty of the world and the people who live in it,” said Grace Katsekes ’26, who studied in both France and Belize. “I have been inspired by them to continue learning and exploring.” Students often travel outside their host country and many have shared that they never would have ventured out to so many other countries if it hadn’t been for studying abroad. Additionally, the majority of returning students highlight the relationships and friendships they developed while abroad and the impact those relationships have had on them.
…and your place in it.
Studying abroad encourages students to continue their global study and pursue career opportunities abroad. Global Education partners with the Career Crossings Office to host career-related events for students, including workshops designed to help returning students leverage study abroad experiences on their resumes. They also host alumnae panels, so current students can hear first-hand the ways in which study abroad can impact careers.
Sara Bauer ’15 works in Milan as a product manager. “After spending my entire sophomore year in the Saint Mary’s Rome program, I spent the next decade chasing the same magic and awe I experienced in Italy,” Bauer said. “Eventually I decided to take the plunge to move from Chicago to Milan where I reignited that spark.” She thanks the SMC Study Abroad program for launching her life-changing adventures. Caitlyn Paulsen ’13, now living in Spain, agreed. “I could not have anticipated how profoundly my life would shift during my semesters abroad in Maynooth and Seville.”
Many students find their place in a study abroad program through the support of financial assistance. A key priority of the Global Education Office is to break down the academic and financial barriers that students can face. The office is diligently working with on-campus partners to help students see that studying abroad can become a reality for them, and to help them access the resources to make it possible. Donors often make it possible to provide students with grants to cover the extra costs they encounter when studying abroad, such as the cost of passports, visas, and flights. Mary Kate Wuefling ’26, benefited from a donor’s generosity. “I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Rome—my first time leaving the country—an experience that was both enriching and transformative,” Wuefling said. “This would not have been possible without a generous grant from Saint Mary’s, which not only enabled me to travel to Italy but also fully immerse myself in its culture through unforgettable experiences.”
Sister Madeleva’s promise to the Saint Mary’s community resonates with students past and present, here and abroad. Catherine Kirkpatrick ’19, a Maynooth program alumna has been living in Ireland for five years since graduating from Saint Mary’s. “None of this would have ever happened without that study abroad experience,” she said. “For me, the program truly fulfilled the promise of Saint Mary’s—the discovery of the universe and your place in it.”