Bella Villegas

 I wanted to do Study Abroad for a year because moving and changing locations can be very anxiety inducing. So, I wanted to make sure I had a stable location for a full year and I had time to adapt, get used to my life there, and have a good chance to travel and explore. Additionally, I wanted to go somewhere that was open minded and welcoming to different identities without being a big city that I would feel lost in. This is why Maastricht was the perfect fit for me, as it allowed me to have the small town experience in a place where I felt safe and accepted.

 I took courses that would transfer as major requirements for both Political Science and Psychology. I took Public Policy and International Relations courses for Political Science and Developmental and Personality Psychology courses for Psychology. These courses were not lecture based and allowed for a lot of student participation. It was a very different style of teaching but it allowed me to try a different way of learning and get new perspectives on the subjects I had already been learning about in Berkeley. The courses in Political Science were particularly interesting as it allowed me to take courses from a non-American perspective and see things from a different lens.

 I was in a pretty small town in the Netherlands with a very small amount of UC students, so I ended up spending a lot of time alone. This seemed like a bad thing at first, but I really ended up enjoying spending time by myself and learning to be more independent. It actually became one of my favorite things and I got to do a lot of solo-trips that allowed me to be more present and comfortable with myself.

 I think studying abroad is a very unique experience, and those that are underrepresented in this process should definitely consider applying. It is a lot more flexible than a lot of people think and there truly is something for everyone. There is a lot to learn, and it's a good opportunity to have different experiences and get out of the Berkeley bubble.