Meet Katie Farrell (She/Her)

Program and Location:

Fall, University College Dublin; Dublin, Ireland

Major/Minor:

Psychology and Philosophy Major, and Cognitive Science Minor

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I chose to study abroad because I love the experience of immersing myself in and exploring new places. Studying abroad is a great way to do this for many reasons: it lasts for a significant time period, you receive support from your home university school and the university abroad, and the experience of studying in whichever place you choose is a very unique and particularly in depth way of experiencing this immersion.
I had also been on one of NC State’s month-long group study abroad programs before, so I knew that I would love the opportunity to do this for a full semester.

How did you pick your program?

I first looked at which programs looked best for my major based on what they had on the NC State study abroad website. Two of the programs stuck out to me as places I had a particular desire to visit. I ultimately chose Ireland out of the two because of the personal significance it has to me and my family, and how safe and ideal it is for a young student who also especially enjoys solo traveling.
A semester-long program seemed like the perfect period of time, because I would not have wanted to be away from home for a full year, but I wanted a longer experience than the month-long one I previously had. I was glad that I was able to work up to being gone for a full semester.

What is something you learned about yourself? How are you different? How are you the same? Or, what did you realize about your own culture by living in another one?

A few things I learned about myself: I learned how capable I am of skills like organization and planning, and taking care of myself. I learned that I am also capable of trying new things and stepping far outside of my comfort zone, and that doing so yields great rewards. I also learned that even though I love my family a lot, I am able to be far away from them for an extended period of time and still be very okay both emotionally and physically. Finally, I learned on a deeper level how much I love exploring, and about the deep feeling of fulfillment that comes from learning about a new culture and seeing new places.

I feel that I am different insofar as realizing such things can enhance personal growth and foster a brighter outlook on life. So I am of course the same person, but it feels many qualities about myself have been enhanced as a result of the experience, as alluded to above. For example, I may still have fear or anxiety when it comes to doing something personally challenging for me, but I now have greater courage and confidence when it comes to facing such obstacles. I also think that I now have a greater appreciation for the vast beauty that is in the world and how worth it is to experience it, and how many good people there are out there, people who are willing to lend a kind hand to a stranger. All of this provided illumination for the way that I want to live and the way I view the world.

What advice would you give to another student?

If you have any desire to travel outside of the country at all, you should definitely study abroad, or at the very least seriously consider it! Don’t let any fear or attachments of home deter you: if you have the desire to travel or experience an adventure that takes you out of the ordinariness of home, this experience is perfect for you. I have absolutely no regrets about taking the leap; on the contrary I will look back on the experience as invaluable, the kind of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I would have regretted not taking.

If you have financial concerns, since I did an exchange program I was able to get the same financial aid I get when I’m home, plus a little more for a study abroad scholarship, so there are definitely ways to be supported.

How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?

One class that I took was the kind you can only take studying abroad, a class particularly for international students called “Discovering Ireland.” This class consisted of two separate, day-long field trips, each taking us to six different culturally significant locations in Ireland. This was a very untraditional but I believe effective learning experience, since it was very hands-on, so the lectures that the professor would give us at the locations took on a greater meaning actually being out there.
My other classes overall did feel very different from NC State’s. The grading system was very different since there weren’t as many things to be graded on: each class I believe basically just had a mid-term and a final (consisting of a test or essay.) For a couple classes I also had regular tutorials, which were sessions in which a smaller group of students outside of the regular lectures would meet with the class TA for an opportunity for more intimate and discussion-based learning. (I believe participation in tutorials also were a small portion of my grade for the two classes in which I had them.)

Would you do it again?

Yes, I would absolutely do it again! I am very grateful that I got to do the semester long program at least once, an would absolutely do it again.