My Study Abroad Trip to Ireland

How This Trip Applies to Leadership

2008-03-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

This class definitely showed me leadership in a few different regards. I was able to see how our professors handled their positions as leaders in a foreign country which was really interesting. They were definitely authoritative, but at the same time, students were able to have a friendly relationship which is something that I have never experienced. Whenever there was a stressful situation, my professors handled themselves with grace and did not panic. Also, through studying different authors, I was able to see how the Irish people overcame their hardships and turned their negative experiences into opportunities to become great leaders. For example, James Joyce came from an abusive family and had a schizophrenic daughter but was able to become one of the greatest authors in Irish history and even gains recognition in other countries. Also, the leaders of the Easter Rising of 1916 showed great strength in leadership and sacrificed themselves in order to gain freedom from Britain for the Irish people. Ireland really was a great chance for me to see leadership in action and to be inspired by these great people.

2008-03-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

The whole class in Derry

Me and an accordian player from Sligo

On the rocks at Giant's Causeway

A few of us in Dublin

King John's Castle

The Cliffs of Moher

Kilmainham Jail

Hanging out on Lady Gregory's property

A view from the Rock of Cashel

What I Gained Most from Studying Abroad

2008-03-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

This class was probably one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I gained a sense of understanding for my own culture and where my family comes from. I understand the struggles that people in Ireland have endured over the centuries with instances like the Great Famine and the Easter Rising of 1916. I got to travel to sites that allowed me to draw an emotional connection to places, people and events that have shaped Irish history such as visiting the Kilmainham Jail, the Blarney Castle, Trinity College and the home of Lady Gregory who is one of the pioneers of Irish literature.
Going to Ireland was the first time that I had been out of the country for more than a week. It was intense at first since I did not have any great friends going into the trip, but I came back with 29 new friends. We made some great memories together and really pushed each other to experience new things and interact with the Irish people at every possible chance.

Why I Would Recommend This Trip To Others

2008-03-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Study abroad is a great opportunity in general to make new friends and to go out of your comfort zone. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone because I got to see many different parts of Ireland which helped me gain a real feel for it as a country. Ireland is an established country with endless castles and museums that help tell Ireland's story, and being subjected to a culture that is not my own really opened my mind to the possibilities of the rest of the world. As a result of my experience, I want to see as much of the world as I can.