D. Flores
Q&A
"If we are being honest, it was an opportunity I wouldn't have considered later on in my college career. It was the perfect time (summer) to explore and form meaningful relationships in my home country, all while exploring volunteering options and giving back."
To re-connect with my roots and explore the education system in Mexico--an opportunity many first gen latinamerican students parents didnt have (like mine). It was an experience that made me more self-aware and concnious about many aspects of life outside the U.S.
Mexican-American, first-generation, and being a STEM major all contributed to my decision to study abroad. If we are being honest, it was an opportunity I wouldn't have considered later on in my college career. It was the perfect time (summer) to explore and form meaningful relationships in my home country, all while exploring volunteering options and giving back.
A typical day was breakfast, school from 9-3, gym from 3:30-4:45, home work form 5-7pm, dinner with friends in a new spot in CDMX, and sleep at 11pm.
History, Advanced Spanish, and a cultural course. They all explored different academic opinions and validated your perspective while providing feedback and constructive criticism.
As a first-generation, bilingual Mexican-American student in STEM. I would take difficult classes at Berkeley and see little to no representation of Latino students. Oftentimes, it felt like I didn't belong or that the system was designed to go against me. Studying abroad in CDMX under UCEAP gave me an opening to mend the relationship between my identity and my academics; To be comfortable being authentic to myself and present it in any academic setting. It was a wonderful experience, and every week we went to a different historic site with beautiful and rich history that motivated me in my journey, carrying my parents' history into these higher places.
The friends I created abroad were one of the most meaningful things of the whole trip, as well as the Wednesday field trips, specifically the tour of the zocalo and the history behind the park near El Palacio de Bella Artes.
My biggest concern about traveling abroad was the safety. I didn't struggle with the idea of making friends; I luckily had my best friend from a different UC also taking the program, so it felt like a piece of home away from home. There was a lot of commotion during my application and even upon arriving in Mexico, which was extremely dangerous. I went into the program with some prejudice and was very aware of my surroundings. I soon came to find out that CDMX is just like any big City in the U.S. It reminded me of S.F. and L. If they were bigger on public transportation. I want to say that after the first week, I was just as cautious in CDMX as I would be in any other big city. There was no need to be frightened. It was also helpful that we traveled in big groups almost everywhere.
I recommend talking to your parents, easing them into the idea that it is safe with the right precautions, and reaching out to potential students of the program. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and respect others always.