Jimena Guerrero, a student of the Bachelor's Degree in Systemic Psychology, obtained an international scholarship to study at the Universidad Mayor in Santiago, Chile.
When you entered UNI, did you know there were international programs?
Yes, I already knew about these programs and had researched the requirements to meet them.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
I had known for a long time before my career that living abroad was something I wanted to do and I made it my goal to have this experience at some point in my career, even though because of the pandemic I thought it would not be possible.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
To be able to surround myself with people from other countries, to learn about cultural differences and how they affect the way we relate to each other. To have this international experience for my CV. Besides living this experience alone and knowing the personal growth it was going to be for me.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
It was a totally different country from what I had always thought and from which I could learn a lot since I knew almost nothing.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
There were a lot of emotions together, uncertainty, pride, happiness, nostalgia, etc. But I knew how hard I had worked to get there and what an enriching experience it was going to be for me, and that filled me with excitement.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
People in this country can be very closed and sometimes very difficult to approach, but as everywhere, there are all kinds of people and many of them also made me feel very welcome and loved.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
From Mexico to my family, friends, the food definitely and from UNI to my classmates and teachers.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Getting to know myself more and more in different aspects, learning to be with me 24/7 and enjoy my own company, starting friendships from scratch and in another language, getting to know beautiful places, and feeling an unparalleled freedom in many aspects.
And the hardest part?
Being away from all my comforts, having to adapt to another culture and even though we speak the same language, it was difficult to communicate with Chileans because of the way they speak.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
As a person I hope that this experience will be one of many more in which I learn and get to know myself much better and in different aspects in which I could not do it staying in my comfort zone. Professionally, I hope that this experience will give me the necessary tools to broaden my knowledge and generate a more open mind.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by UNI to your colleagues?
Totally, it is something that everyone should try to live since it gives you a totally different way of looking at life and gives you very valuable friendships.
Thank you UNI for this great opportunity!