As many students learned during their third College & Career Day experience, study abroad presents rich and eye-opening opportunities for high school and college students alike.
Even though she is not currently taking Spanish, one of our Burroughs students has jumped at this prospect.
Burroughs freshman Sehar Chaudhary has been accepted into the CIEE Global Navigator program for a summer abroad in Madrid for a period of four weeks from June to July. Chaudhary will study Spanish language and culture.
Established in 1947, the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is a nonprofit that offers more than 35 destinations around the world for teens to study abroad.
“Over summer break, I was interested in studying abroad, but I didn’t want to do it for the whole year,” said Chaudhary. “My sister told me about CIEE.”
Chaudhary is eager to explore the cultural landmarks of Madrid. She has quite the itinerary planned out in anticipation of a full immersion in Spanish architecture, culture, and history. She has set her heart on visiting the Palacio Real de Madrid, built on the site of ninth-century Moorish castle; and absorb herself in the dynamic and expressive art pieces in the Museo del Prado.
To apply, Chaudhary completed an application essay asking her to describe her passions and how she would flourish in a summer abroad.
AVID and English Teacher Ernestina Palerm-Wilson walked Chaudhary through the application process and wrote her letter of recommendation.
“It was entertaining because Sehar has a hard time making decisions, but I’m always happy to help kids do exceptional things,” said Wilson.
Wilson knows firsthand how rewarding a summer abroad can be.
“I myself studied at Madrid for a year,” said Wilson. “It’s probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I absolutely recommend this experience for other students who are interested.”
A trip such as this is costly.
“I want to pay for the portion of the tuition since a good amount was covered through a scholarship,” said Chaudhry. “And I didn’t want to be a financial burden on my family.”
Chaudhary is currently putting on an ongoing fundraiser with a goal of raising $4,000. She is selling decadent homemade chocolate-covered desserts, including pretzels, strawberries, and wafers.
To support Chaudhary in her efforts, you can reach out to her by email chaud.seha2028@ssusdschools.org for price details and package deals.
In addition to immersing herself in Madrid’s language and culture, Chaudhary is looking to grow as a person.
“I want to learn more about myself throughout this experience since I will be away from my family and staying with a host family,” said Chaudhary.
