BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott women's lacrosse rising senior Jackie Healy (Northborough, Mass.) studied abroad in Australia. Healy, a nursing major at Endicott, reached out to ECGulls with some interesting tales of her trip to Rockhampton.

ECGulls: Give us an overall description of your trip.

I studied abroad in Australia at Central Queensland University in Rockhampton. I arrived in Australia on June 29 and left on November 7. During my abroad experience, I went to various places along the coast of Australia. I went to Sydney where I saw the Opera House, Manly, Cairns where I went scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef as well as went skydiving! I also went to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, and Airlie Beach.

ECGulls: Describe your overall study abroad experience.

My overall experience really helped me grow as a person. Being really far away from home, and in a completely different time zone, forced me to become more independent. At first, not being able to talk to my family was really unsettling and often times, made me feel homesick, but I learned to embrace being on my own.

ECGulls: Why would you recommend studying abroad to other students?

I would recommend studying abroad to other students because it is definitely a once in a lifetime experience. When else in your lifetime, are you going to get to stay in a foreign country, and travel for four months?

ECGulls: What was the biggest lesson you learned?

The biggest lesson I learned was to hold myself accountable and be independent. Another lesson I learned was to never say no to an opportunity that could be once in a lifetime.

ECGulls: What was your favorite experience?

My favorite experience was going to Whitsunday Island in Airlie Beach. I've never seen water that blue or sand that white in my entire life.

ECGulls: Describe the educational side of the program.

Education wise, CQU was great. All international students are offered a course, Outdoor Pursuits, where you get to go canoeing, hiking, and surfing! The professors are very welcoming towards the international students and are always available if you need help.

WHY STUDY ABROAD? – (ENDICOTT STUDY ABROAD WEBSITE)

Following the College's philosophy to "learn by doing" through experiential learning, the study abroad program & its international internships prepare students at Endicott for success by offering alternative academic understanding, social & cultural literacy and life-changing experiences. Through semester-long academic study, faculty-led trips, and/or 3-to-15 week internships abroad, students gain new confidence and self-awareness, and obtain the skills necessary for success in today's economy.

"Globalization is here to stay, and students who want to work in our interconnected global world should study or intern abroad.

Despite the inevitable increasing global competition for jobs, American graduates lack the international experience, language capabilities and cross-cultural communication skills necessary to succeed in the global economy.

Making education abroad a part of their college education is the most effective and accessible means for students to develop needed skills because it pushes a student to get out of her comfort zone to experience another culture, language, environment and education system. It teaches students to appreciate difference and diversity firsthand and enables them to recognize — and then dismiss — stereotypes they may have held about people they had never met.

Learning how to interact with people from other countries and cultures equips future leaders in all sectors to address urgent issues — from curing diseases and finding energy solutions, to fighting terrorism and hunger — shared across borders."

The Endicott Experience feature aims to highlight the entirety of the student-athletes' experiential learning journey throughout their academic careers. The student-athlete at Endicott is afforded the same opportunities as the general student population at the College as it relates to internships, study abroad, and postgraduate career pursuits. This philosophy mirrors the mission statement of the College which every student is encouraged to take intellectual risks, pursue scholarly and creative interests, contribute to the community, and explore diverse career paths. Read more Endicott Experience features by navigating the links below.   

INTERNSHIP: Fall 2015 | 2014-15 Internships | Fall 2016 Semester-Long | Gulls "Learn By Doing" On Winter Break | 442 Student-Athletes Complete Internships During 2016-17 Academic Year

STUDY ABROAD: Studying Abroad as a Student-Athlete at Endicott | James Dwyer Focuses on Opportunities Abroad in Switzerland with Les Roches Global Hospitality | Endicott Student-Athletes Study Abroad in Asia | Holly Erbe Studies Abroad in London, Paris, Amsterdam | Andrea Courtemanche Gains New Perspectives Through Study Abroad Trip | Shelby Elwell Catches Travel Bug From Study Abroad Experiences | Erica Hadad Studies Abroad In Ireland

ACADEMICS: Emily Sharpe and Eric Owens Balance STEM and Sport at Endicott | Daquan Sampson Always Willing To Learn, On The Court & In The Classroom

CAREER OUTCOMES: Internships Lead To Career Outcomes | 2015 Graduates Find Immediate Success in Job Market | The Relationship Between Athletics & Academia At Endicott

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(Photo Credit - Jackie Healy)