Paola Hernández, from Systemic Psychology, was one of the winning students of the Uni International Scholarship that allowed her to study for a semester in Oviedo, Spain.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
- Yes, I had already heard about it in my interview with my career director (teacher Myriam).
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
- Studying abroad was something I had in mind, but living for 6 months outside of Mexico was not planned, less so because of the pandemic issues and things related to Covid.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
- Yes, but not for that long.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
- To get to know new cultures, to let others know more about mine, to be able to represent UNI as a student, Celaya as my city, Guanajuato as my state or Mexico as a country in any aspect.
- It motivates me a lot to have new challenges in different stages of my life, because of course it has been a challenge to get out of my comfort zone completely, but in part it has helped me a lot (which is also something that motivates me) in my personal and school growth.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
- First of all, it was because after the confinement, it was the first face-to-face scholarship that was available for my career, plus Spain had always been a country I had always wanted to travel to.
- Another reason, is that I liked the idea of knowing how they teach psychology from a different country, how the classes are taught, what differences there are and what things could be applied to improve the teaching.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
- A lot of excitement to be honest and at the same time the fear or uncertainty that comes when you start something new, but above all happiness, and why not? I was in Spain, on the other side of the world, by myself (meaning no family or friends nearby) because of course I was with Diana, Emilio and Joana (but I didn't know them yet) hahaha.
- I felt grateful to my parents because they gave me the opportunity that not everyone has, to go to another country, to get to know it, to be able to study in a foreign university, to be able to say "I will go to Spain for 6 months".
- I felt like I was starting a new adventure and I was ready for whatever was to come.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
- Very good, the truth is that they are very kind, they are very inclusive people with everyone, at no time I lacked instruction to perform the activities or high or low subjects to give an example.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
- I think that from Mexico my family, DEFINITELY the food, the people I live with in my day to day life, my work, my children at work, the parties that are celebrated in Mexico and not in Spain.
- At UNI I will miss my friends, classmates and teachers who have been a part of my life for the last 2 years or so, the way they do their work, exams and homework.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
- EVERYTHING has been like an experience every day. I think everything is exciting, from arriving at the hall and not knowing anyone, arriving with the landlady and seeing her for the first time, the first fight with the roomies, the way the school works has been interesting.
- Of course, going out and seeing places near and far from Oviedo has also been interesting.
- Creating new friendships during all this time has been something very nice, being able to say that you have Chilean, Italian, Ecuadorian friends and even meet Mexicans that you would never have met otherwise.
And the hardest part?
- The most difficult thing I feel has been to become partially independent, since my parents support me financially, but to take care of that money, to know how to distribute it according to personal needs and expenses.
- Adapting to the way teachers and students work, since the way classes are taught and work in teams is very different.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
-Personally I hope it will help me to improve my organization, that it will make me feel the responsibility that comes with not being with our parents and not having someone who is supporting us first hand, also a personal growth should come out of this experience that will completely turn my life around for 6 months.
-Professionally, I think you can learn a lot about the differences of working in this country, the opportunities that I can have, as well as find contacts that can help me to get those opportunities.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
-I really liked my experience, I would highly recommend an exchange if you have the opportunity and resources, because you have to keep in mind that not everything is as easy as arriving and seeing what happens.
Personally, it is an experience that everyone should have at least once during their college life because it is also a great glimpse into the adult life that awaits us after graduation, so I highly recommend it.
I would like to thank my career director, Ms. Miryam Centeno, who supported me throughout this process, and the Director of Internationalization, Ms. Gaby Gonzalez, for her support and guidance. And above all to my parents who gave me this opportunity that not everyone has.