So here I am, twelve
days from my departure to the Emerald Isle, a place that has always been on my
bucket list of “places I will visit sometime in the distant future". It is
still hard to believe that it is happening. I never imagined going as a college
student and spending a month attending a university there, followed by a road
trip around the country. There is no doubt that Dad is dancing an Irish jig in
heaven and Grandpa Ed, whose mother emigrated from Tipperary, is with him,
singing, "My Wild Irish Rose".
Perhaps I should go back
and explain how this trip began. In the spring of 2015, I began taking classes
online through Creighton University to complete my Bachelor's degree, an
ongoing goal of mine for many years. When I started, I was still living in
Iowa, but was moving to Omaha in the summer. Once I got to Omaha, I became
involved in activities in Creighton, thanks to my awesome advisor, Amy
Gillaspie. Amy and fellow advisor Laurie Galeski (who is equally awesome) both
provided many ideas about opportunities to become involved at Creighton, and
each one has been a positive experience. Currently, I am a peer mentor for
Creighton's CPS 200 class (the beginning class for online students), I am a
member of the Adult Learning Council, and I am a member of the Non-Traditional
Student Union. Life's great at
Creighton, whether you are a traditional student who lives in a dorm or a
non-traditional student who lives and works off campus. I just can't say enough
good about Creighton and the many people there who have helped me in so many
ways.
One day in January as I
was headed for class, I stopped at Starbuck's in the Skutt Center for a cup of
coffee. A table was set up displaying study abroad opportunities by API Study
Abroad (Academic Programs International). I stopped just to look at it, just
out of curiosity with no intention of pursuing anything. One of API's Regional
Directors, Jason Kouba, was manning the table. Jason has a wonderful way of
connecting with people. He did not make a sales pitch, we simply visited about
his travels and experiences. I didn't really give it any more thought until
some later when I emailed him. Jason, however, apparently sensed that I was
more interested than I realized. When I emailed him, he had already mentioned
to the Creighton Global Engagement Office that I might be a potential study
abroad student. Somehow it all fell into place very quickly, thanks to the
special efforts of Christine Billings, Director of the College of Professional
Studies, Amy Gillaspie, and Krista Cupich, my advisor from the GEO.
Because I began the
process later than normal, having only one year left before graduating, I was
very fortunate to meet all of the deadlines and requirements in time. Special
thanks goes to Christine Billings, Director of the College of Professional Studies,
Amy Gillaspie, and Krista Cupich, my advisor at the GEO. If you are considering studying abroad, begin
the process as early as possible. Talk with your advisor, and if you are a
traditional age student, talk with your family, and the study abroad office
which at Creighton is the Global Engagement Office. There are different options
for study abroad programs. A student can go on a Creighton faculty-led program
or with a company that partners with the university such as API Abroad. There
are numerous other opportunities such as mission trips that the Global
Engagement Office can also discuss if you are interested in that.
One more thing: I will
be at NUI, National University of Ireland, Galway. So stay tuned for what is
sure to be a great adventure!
