Students and instructors from NCC will leave for Costa Rica this month.

LR writer will keep blog while in
Costa Rica with study-abroad group

By Stefanie Peters

Douglass H. Daft, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca Cola Company
says, “International education ignites a passion for understanding other people and their perspectives. That’s one important benefit to working or studying abroad - and it’s essential to success in our increasingly diverse world.

Students with international exposure come to understand the value of dialogue between people from different cultures and between people with different points of view. They also gain an understanding of the importance of relationships.

Relationships are the foundation for meaning and success in life. They are also the foundation
for strong businesses, especially businesses that care about creating mutual benefit.”

My name is Stefanie Peters and I am 17 years old. I’m a PSEO student and I’m very excited about studying abroad in Costa Rica this semester. I leave on February 17 and I will return on April 21, 2006.

Why do I want to study abroad in Costa Rica? I was surfing the NCC website looking
for opportunities to expand my horizons when I came across the study abroad section. I clicked on it and was instantly hooked. I knew this was the trip I wanted to go on. I talked to my parents about it and they encouraged me to get some more information about it.
However, when I talked to some of my friends they told me I couldn’t go because
I was a PSEO student.

I was disappointed at first, but then I decided to call up the Joyce Carey and see if the rumors are true. Joyce Carey talked to me for quite a while about the trip and how exciting it was. She informed me that all students, including PSEO, are eligible if they are 18 years old and have successfully completed 12 college credits prior to the trip.

My heart dropped once again, because I was not 18. When I asked her what the deadline would be to turn 18, she said by the actual date that the trip starts. Luckily, I turn 18 on the 13 of February and I am going to leave on the 17 of February.

I think the moral of this part of the story is that one should always ignore rumors and go straight to the top before one brushes off opportunities.

Studying abroad is an incredible way to discover the world and become acquainted with the traditions and languages of other cultures. Students can receive college credit and build their résumés at the same time. The experience gained from studying abroad is an invaluable way to challenge students to become all they can be.

I want to travel to Costa Rica to be immersed in the Spanish language. I have taken Spanish since I was in kindergarten and I’m so keyed up about this amazing opportunity. I am going to blog about my whole experience in Costa Rica, so check out my weekly updates on the Lion’s Roar website at www.lionsroar.info or come and join my adventure in Costa Rica at http://chaquitacostarica.blogspot.com.