Infographic by Charlotte Branden

“Studying abroad was incredibly influential to me. I learned so much about myself, other cultures, and the world.”

My education abroad experience was one of the most transformative and empowering experiences I have had in college. By participating in a faculty-led travel seminar, students gain the opportunity to reshape their worldview, push themselves out of their comfort zone and create meaningful and lasting relationships — with the support of a faculty member. 

During my junior year of college, I had the privilege to do a semester-long education abroad with California Lutheran University’s Oxford Program. It was the most impactful and exciting experience I have ever had. 

The Cal Lutheran Oxford Program is a unique blend of a faculty-led and independent experience. The first half of the program is spent in Oxford, England, accompanied by a Cal Lutheran faculty professor in-person. The second half of the program is spent in London, England, where the faculty professor is not physically present. 

Leaving for my education abroad program was incredibly daunting. Up until that point, I had never traveled alone, left the country or had been away from my family for more than two weeks. The opportunity to have my professor, Dru Pagliassotti, physically abroad with me in the first half, made this transition easier. 

Brian Collins, associate professor of philosophy and the chair of the Philosophy Department at Cal Lutheran, has led two travel seminars in Greece and Egypt and has served as the faculty professor on the Oxford Program. Collins said that faculty-led seminars are a great first step to international travel. 

“I would say, start with the faculty-led travel seminar ‘cause that’s sort of a lower bar to get over. But also, if one can, and one is interested, try to go on a semester long program,” Collins said. “I don’t think you can go wrong, whichever one you do first or whichever one you can do, is good. It’s a great experience. If you can do both, that’s even better.”

Junior Emily Jalisi took Collins’ Ancient Egyptian Philosophy course and participated in the faculty-led seminar to Egypt. She said that having a faculty professor abroad with the students added to her experience. 

“[The faculty-led seminar] was just really cool, because it felt like if we had any questions, we can go up to them about anything,” Jalisi said. “[It] felt like we were safe the entire time.”

Semester-long programs challenge students to navigate a new country or city independently. Students gain a new level of independence, as they are traveling alone without a faculty member by their side to help them navigate a new environment. 

Senior Niora Abraham spent junior year studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Abraham said that doing a year-long study abroad program without a faculty professor allowed her to step out of her comfort zone. 

“I think if it would have been led by a faculty mentor, I would have been a little more comfortable and I think my goal was to be uncomfortable,” Abraham said. “I learned how to be an adult. I learned how to manage life.” 

During the second half of my experience studying abroad, Pagliassotti was not physically present and my cohort and I were truly on our own. Without the guidance of my professor, we gained a new level of independence. We were left to navigate a new city, new challenges, and new responsibilities. While this transition was challenging at times, it made me more confident in my ability to make decisions and develop a stronger sense of responsibility.

Senior Laylanie Valenzuela studied abroad for a semester in Sydney, Australia, during her junior year. Valenzuela said that during her time abroad she wanted to try everything and immerse herself into Australian culture. 

“I got to eat kangaroo and crocodile and emu, which are all unique foods that we don’t really have here [United States], so it’s very interesting to be like, ‘okay, I’m gonna hop into this new culture and just fully immerse myself so I can, at the end of the day, say I gave it my all and tried everything,’” Valenzuela said. 

My last trip abroad changed my perspective on the world and made me realize how much I love learning about different cultures, countries, and people. My friends and I had traveled to Norway during our last weekend abroad, and during our trip, we got to immerse ourselves in the culture of the Sámi, an Indigenous community in Europe. We got to eat traditional foods, listen to the stories of their culture, and connect with new people. 

Education abroad gives students the ability to connect with others on a deeper level. Whether it is on a travel seminar or a semester abroad, education abroad provides students with friendships and relationships that are impactful and meaningful. 

“I would just say, if you are studying abroad and you’re nervous, don’t be, because this change is going to be so good for you and you’re gonna make so many good friends,” Valenzuela said. “I still have friends from my trip that are living in other countries, some in Ireland and London and New Zealand and Paris.” 

Studying abroad was incredibly influential to me. I learned so much about myself, other cultures, and the world. I grew in ways that I did not think were possible and made friendships that I will cherish forever. 

Cal Lutheran’s Office of Education Abroad is offering faculty-led travel seminars in spring 2026, with applications open until Nov. 1, 2025. These travel seminars are located in Spain, Italy, France, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. 

“Try all the new things. Try the new foods. Participate in the activities that that particular culture is doing,” Collins said. “It’s that participation that helps you develop that sort of visceral understanding of what a different culture is like.”