More Than A Semester 

How Study Abroad Shapes Honors Students

By Sydney Manson

Every semester, a subset of honors students leaves the University of Iowa and their comfort zones behind to immerse themselves in new cities, cultures, and challenges worldwide. From navigating the metro in Paris to chatting with locals in Spain, honors students spend the semester gaining confidence and learning to thrive abroad. 

Although studying abroad may sound like a dream vacation, it isn’t just about traveling; it’s a pathway to self-discovery, worldwide friendships, and a brighter future.

For many students, their first time leaving the country is through a study abroad program. While preparing for a semester abroad can feel nerve-wracking (and expensive) for some, the Honors Program provides students with resources to assist them, both financial and developmental. 

Because most programs cost more than a typical semester at the University of Iowa, studying abroad can be a financial challenge for students. However, the Honors Program’s experiential learning grant, averaging $500, helps offset the cost. 

“Every little bit counts, and that really made a difference,” said Jessica Housour, who recently traveled to Spain. 

The Honors Program also provides students with a course, Second-Year Seminar, to prepare them by teaching the importance of goal setting and reflection while abroad. 

“The biggest thing going into it was, ‘What do I want to take out of this?’, which the Honors Program really drove into me,” said Bri Brands, who took the course before leaving for a semester in Paris. 

Whether it’s an opportunity for personal growth, a semester spent creating lifelong friendships and memories, or a chance to become immersed in another culture, the seminar guides honors students in developing the skills needed to shape their semester abroad into exactly what they hoped it would be.

Now a teaching assistant for the Second-Year Seminar, Brands understands firsthand the challenges students experience abroad. 

She recalled that, while it initially felt intimidating to travel alone to another country, the experience ultimately pushed her to become more independent. From learning to navigate public transportation to making new friends and traveling across Europe, Brands’ time in Paris built her confidence.

After seeing her for the first time in months, her mom told her, “You’re this completely different person. You’re so much more confident; you know your way around. You’re showing me around this foreign city that you’ve only lived in for four months.” 

In the Second Year Seminar, students develop the skills to experience this growth for themselves. 

For honors students preparing to go abroad, Brands advises, “Just be open to every single thing ever. If someone asks you, ‘Do you want to go get a glass of wine after class?’ Yes, you do. You don’t want to go home and sleep. You can sleep after you get home.”

Housour, also a teaching assistant for the Second Year Seminar, uses her own experiences to help students prepare for their own journeys. 

Housour recalled that, before leaving for Spain, “My biggest fear was actually speaking the language to people who do speak it, so I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and just take that chance to get better.” 

Having pushed herself and her speaking skills while in Spain, Housour returned home a more confident Spanish speaker. She stated that traveling abroad solidified her interest in pursuing language studies and even made her a more confident person. 

Now, Housour shares her experiences with her students, making them better prepared for their own journeys across the globe. 

While the Second Year Seminar equips students with essential skills that they can apply to study abroad, it is ultimately up to the students to make the most of their experience.

For Leila Assadi, a third-year student who recently returned from Seoul, one of the most impactful parts of her semester was the people she met through her program. 

“They’re from all over the world,” Assadi said, listing Singapore, Nigeria, Germany, Switzerland, and France. 

Like many other honors students who study abroad, Assadi’s friendships proved to last beyond the study term. 

“I’m going to Germany this winter,” she explained. “We’re doing a mini reunion.” 

Experiences like these demonstrate how studying abroad not only helps honors students grow their confidence but also expands their perspectives beyond what they learn in the classroom. Being abroad and fostering connections with people from other cultures expands students’ world views and provides them with lifelong networks.

After studying in Seoul, Assadi chose to pursue an international business certificate and is now exploring future opportunities abroad. She also plans to apply for a Fulbright or an Epik program after graduation, both of which would allow her to teach English overseas. 

Brands came back from Paris more confident and eager to apply her personal experiences to her writing. 

Housour returned from Spain with stronger speaking skills and a greater ability to navigate unfamiliar challenges, better equipping her for future endeavors. 

For these three honors students and many others, studying abroad was more than just a semester away; it built a foundation of confidence, independence, and personal and academic growth that lasts a lifetime.

Read more about honors student study abroad experiences on the Honors Program blog, Note to Self.