Olivia Boily ’25
Program: Australia Semester
Major: Global Business Leadership
Minor: Data Analytics
Additional Activity: CSB Basketball
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you decide on this program?
Ever since coming to college, I was intrigued to study abroad after hearing about the opportunities on college tours. I always thought I would find myself doing a short, embedded program due to my commitment to being on the basketball team. I thought that was a great amount of time; however, towards the end of my sophomore year, I had recently seen a high school friend of mine do “Semester at Sea.” I got to see all her amazing adventures over the span of a semester and was inspired to take the brave jump to apply for a semester-long program. I knew I was probably too late to get into a fall semester program so I began looking at programs for spring 2024. I also had to keep in mind that as a collegiate basketball player, about a third of our season is in January. Therefore, it narrowed my search to pretty much two programs that start in February: Australia and South Africa. Both the options to me sounded quite amazing. I actually did not know we even had an Australia program, but when I saw it, I had this feeling that it was the one for me.
Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your program that made a lasting impression.
A cultural experience that I had during study abroad was the opportunity to go to an AFL game. AFL stands for Australian Football League. We went as a group and our house director had us watch a short clip about the rules and all. This experience was awesome because it allowed me to see a sport that Australians love and value. Being there, it felt like a mix between being at a football game and a baseball game. The crowd was electric and we got the chance to learn so much about a sport that was new to a lot of us.
Another short cultural experience that I would like to share was a group of us went on a short trip south to Margaret River. While we were there, we saw many kangaroos that were hanging out right by our rental house. Just days prior to this our Australian History teacher said it is extremely dangerous to get close to adult male kangaroos, so although we were fascinated, we kept our distance and stayed very quiet.
Based on your experiences abroad, what are some of the benefits of spending a semester abroad? How has studying abroad contributed to your personal, academic, and professional development?
Based on my experience, I found many benefits from spending a whole semester abroad. I believe it gave me the chance to fully immerse myself and spend enough time to learn and get used to the culture, cities, and people around me. I never felt rushed, and it always felt like there was time to try all the new things around me. It also allowed me to enroll in the university over there (University of Notre Dame Australia, UNDA) and have the chance to experience how school works in another country. To expand, a semester also gave me the time to truly learn about myself and expand my independence tremendously. I learned how to live in a totally different environment without my parents or my college and that in itself I think allows you to learn so much. And lastly, on a professional development note, I got to expand my network and connections to professors, advisors, and mentors over there. Some were Australians, while others were originally from other places around the world. These connections continue to grow opportunities for me in the future.
What advice can you offer for CSB+SJU students who are considering or planning to study abroad?
DO IT! If there is the slightest chance that studying abroad works for you, I 100% recommend it. Fellow study abroad alums said the same to me, and although I was excited to go, I did not realize how much it would impact me. I learned true independence, love for traveling, found my inner confidence, and whole-heartedly lived life to the fullest. It is a time in your life that I believe you will remember and cherish forever. The opportunity to travel and have the chance to work towards your college education is truly such a special gift that I would choose to do over and over again.