Mark Baher

Studying abroad in Spain was one of the best decisions of my life. On top of my classes, I got to travel to four different countries: Switzerland, Morocco, Czech Republic, and Portugal! Every place felt completely different. In Switzerland. Seeing the Swiss Alps in person was on my bucket list and felt like something out of a movie. My classes in Spain were focused on art and architecture, which made walking through Prague and looking at the gothic architecture something special. Portugal was beautiful with incredible food especially the pastel de nata from Fabric da Nata. More than anything, being fully in it, and experiencing different cultures was worth more than anything

One of the biggest surprises was realizing how much you can do with very little. I was on a tight budget the entire time, and before every euro I spend, I’d stop and think a million times. Is it worth it? Should I use that money for something better? At first it felt stressful, but it became one of the most valuable lessons of the whole experience. I still made four countries, saw incredible places, tried amazing food, and had experiences I’ll never forget. The best moments weren’t the fancy ones, but the ones where we just present, exploring, and taking it all in.

The experience really inspired me to continue traveling and keep an open mind. I want to pursue more opportunities abroad, whether that be studying abroad for an internship or continuing to learn new languages. Or maybe even just make sure that I make it an effort to continue to meet people from different cultures. I don’t want this journey to be limited to just this experience, but I want it to be a mindset I carry going forward.

I would not have been able to do this without the Honors award. Study abroad is extremely expensive and the award helped me make that possible. It meant a lot having that support from the program. It gave me an opportunity I will forever cherish, and I am grateful the Honors program chose to invest in my growth.

As someone studying business, I am aware that I will one day be working with clients from around the world, analyzing global markets, and collaborating with diverse coworkers. While I gained incredible technical skills and knowledge from my classes, there was one particular skill set that I know I could only gain from studying abroad, which is that authentic multicultural competence. Being thrown into a place where I wasn’t familiar with the language, currency, customs, and communication allowed me to develop skills that I will take with me throughout my career. Even the art history classes that I took in Spain taught me to look at things with a different perspective, a skill I know I can use in my career as well. Overall, I think it’s essential to learn how to be okay with feeling uncomfortable.