News

Student Studies Abroad

Natalie Burns, ‘15, Mathematics

During the 2013-14 school year, I left the familiarity of Roberts and the United States and studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain, for the fall semester and Rome, Italy, for the spring semester. The experience of being abroad took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to grow personally and in my faith, and immersing myself in the history and cultures of Spain and Italy has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

While I was abroad I took classes in language, religion, history, and media, all of which helped me to diversify and expand my knowledge outside of my major area of study, mathematics. However, I had the best learning experiences outside of the classroom. I learned to navigate foreign cities and interact with people who spoke a different language and practiced different customs than I.

I also had the opportunity to participate in missions in both Sevilla and Rome. In Sevilla, I helped teach English to Spaniards, and in Rome, I helped with a ministry that served meals and provided a place of comfort and community to Afghan refugees. Especially the ministry in Rome opened my eyes to how blessed I am to have heard the Gospel and to be able to practice Christianity freely. The experience showed me the need for missions in the world and gave me a heart for serving God through spreading His word and comforting His people.

I am truly grateful for the opportunity I had to study abroad, and I would encourage any other Roberts’s student who has the opportunity to take advantage of it. Studying abroad was a rewarding, exciting experience that allowed me to learn both in a classroom setting and through life experiences that have shaped how I view myself, the world, and my faith.           

For more information on studying abroad visit https://www.roberts.edu/undergraduate/hands-on-experience/study-abroad.aspx.