We asked a few of our outbound seniors their thoughts in regards to the last year as well as on their upcoming foreign study, having initially postponed this experience by a year. Below are the responses from IEPers Anastasia Paraliticci and Sean Babin, both fourth-year seniors headed to Europe this fall.
ANASTASIA
What did you do with your newfound time in the US/at URI during the last year?
I used my extra time at URI to enjoy my senior year with my friends and get ahead on my academics. I wanted to ensure that I completed all of my credits and degree requirements so that I didn’t have to worry about missing anything once I was abroad. During the winter I enrolled in a J-Term course to finish my professional electives early and even had time to take linear algebra and complete my math minor in the Spring. This summer I will be interning at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence for some hands-on learning before leaving for Germany. The silver lining of this unexpected experience was being able to attend commencement with the people I’ve known for the past 4 years and (symbolically) graduating with them.
What kept you motivated to stay in the IEP during the last year despite the uncertainty caused by the global pandemic?
IEP was one of the biggest reasons I attended URI and I’ve been looking forward to going abroad since the day I committed. I’ve been taking 18/19 credit semesters for 4 years now and putting in extra work to complete both degrees, so I wanted to finish strong. Personally, I wasn’t ready to end my URI experience with a global pandemic and decided I would stick it out.
What are you most excited for in regards to your upcoming year abroad?
I am most excited for the opportunity to be able to travel again and see new places. Having an entire year abroad is amazing because I’ll have time to get to know my “hometown”, but also see other parts of the world. Living in Germany will be a nice change of scenery and I can’t wait to immerse myself in German culture by making it my everyday life.
What are you currently most anxious about related to this experience?
I think I’m most anxious about starting an internship in a different country. My German classes at URI and the partner university will help reduce the language barrier, however, experiencing a whole new work culture and collaborating with professional engineers can be intimidating. While this is nerve wracking, I am looking forward to the opportunity to experience it.
SEAN
What did you do with your newfound time in the US/at URI?
Being at URI for this past year turned out to be a great choice for myself and my future. I was able to fully experience “Senior Year” with all my non-IEP friends at the University who graduated this May. With COVID-19 being prevalent this past year and a half, a lot of the typical college student activities had to be altered. However, with this in mind, I did my best to make the most out of the situation and capture each moment as my college career was coming to an end. I spent most of my time doing school work and the rest of the time with my close friends. We discovered many new outdoor parks, trails, and beaches in the area, which my friends and I had never explored before this year.
What kept you motivated to stay in the IEP during the last year despite the uncertainty caused by the global pandemic?
A majority of my friends and fellow classmates left the program since I started the IEP three years ago, but I kept myself motivated with the dream of an academic trip to Europe. What further pushed me was the fact that all I had left was to attend and enjoy my year abroad as I completed the degree.
What are you most excited for in regards to your upcoming year abroad?
I am most excited about the unparalleled experiences and variety of cultures that I will encounter during my year abroad.
What are you currently most anxious about related to this experience?
I am most anxious about the initial transition into living and studying in a foreign country, especially one whose primary language is not English.
Anything else you would like to comment on/add?
I am nervously ecstatic about the upcoming IEP trip and am very thankful that it has been approved. I hope that this journey will help me grow as a person and that my strenuous wait for this trip will become a life-long investment in myself.