When Kim Mendoza was making her college choice, having the opportunity to study abroad was a big factor.
It was part of the reason she decided on the College of Saint Benedict. Over 45 percent of CSB and Saint John’s University students take part in study-abroad programs over the course of their four years on campus.
“That was something I was pretty adamant about,” the junior-to-be from Dallas recalled. “I definitely wanted the chance to expand my horizons and experience a different culture.
“When I applied to CSB and got accepted, I took part in the fly-in program. During that weekend visit, I went to the involvement fair they put on. I visited the study-abroad table and professor (Jeff) DuBois was there. He was so positive about the Japanese program and about the Japanese language and culture. When I mentioned my interest, he jumped on that train immediately. He told me I had to do it. It was going to be awesome.
“Having someone on your side who has experience going over there, and is so enthusiastic about it, drew me in even more.”
Now Mendoza is one of 15 students who will be taking part in the study abroad program during the upcoming fall semester.
The program, one of 21 study-abroad opportunities (12 semester-long, nine shorter-term embedded) offered at CSB and SJU, is offered with longtime partner Bunkyo Gakuin University. CSB and SJU students live with other international students in a residence hall near campus in central Tokyo.
The experience also includes program excursions to cities like Nikko, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima. Mendoza and her fellow tripmates depart in late August and return to the U.S. on Dec. 19.
“I really love to travel, and as a liberal arts student, I believe we should embrace open-mindedness when it comes to experiencing other cultures,” said Ashley Lara, a junior-to-be from Houston. “The way you learn about yourself and the world is through actively engaging with people from different backgrounds than your own.
“It broadens your horizons as to what the world really is.”
“I’m really interested in the art history and fashion (in Japan), added junior-to-be Jade Alcala of Riverton, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. “Western countries have been influenced by Japan in ways many people don’t fully realize. I’m interested in seeing the roots of that history and where it all comes from.”
Alcala, Lara and Mendoza are all Intercultural LEAD Fellowship Scholars, a program that “engages and supports high-achieving first-generation college students of financial need, including those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, who have demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to personal and professional identity development.”
They are also three of 11 first-generation students who will take part in the Japan program during the fall semester alone.
“I’ve had the experience of traveling places by myself, and knowing I will be traveling with other people this time – specifically friends I’ve gotten to know – is something that eases a lot of anxiety,” Lara said. “I think that’s part of what will make this such a special experience.”
Joy Ruis, director of the Center for Global Education at CSB and SJU and a first-generation college student herself, said it is crucial for students to be aware of all the study abroad opportunities offered. The hope is to provide different ways to make study abroad a possibility for as many students as possible, as that is a big part of the mission at the two schools.
“Our office is working hard to find ways to increase access and equity across all our study abroad programs,” she said. “I think we’re at a good starting point, but we will continue finding ways to offer programs that allow more and more students to engage in the transformational experience that study abroad provides.
It’s an experience Mendoza is eager to get started on.
“When you’re in one place for as long as we will be, and you’re surrounded by one complete culture, I think it engulfs you more,” she said. “You get a personal sense of what daily life is like there. It’s a real-world experience you wouldn’t be able to get outside of the study-abroad realm.
“Since I’ve been at CSB and SJU, I’ve met more and more students who have studied abroad. They’ve shared what it meant to them. A lot of them were also first-gen students. Having that built-in support system, as well as the resources offered here, played a big role in my own decision to do this.”