Meghan Dutchyshyn Studies Abroad In Ireland

Posted: Feb 25, 2019

BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott women's lacrosse rising junior Meghan Dutchyshyn (Cheshire, Conn.) recently studied abroad in Ireland. Dutchyshyn, who is majoring in Biology/Biotechnology, caught up ECGulls on her trip to Cork and beyond.

ECGulls: Give us an overall description of your trip.

I studied abroad in Cork, Ireland for the entire fall semester of 2018. However, I was lucky enough to travel to many different countries in Europe during my visit including the UK, Germany, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Iceland.

ECGulls: Describe your overall study abroad experience.

Studying abroad taught me so much about personal responsibility and really allowed me to figure out how to be truly independent while being so far away from everything and everyone I know. It was an amazing experience and I would and do recommend it to everyone I talk to. Whether or not they want to go to Cork as I did, I believe everyone should try to take the opportunity to go somewhere.

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

I would recommend studying abroad to other students because although I love Endicott and our beautiful campus there is so much to learn about the world which can almost only be understood if you leave and experience it. I learned more in one semester abroad about myself and the world then I could have learned in any classroom regardless of the institution.

ECGulls: What was the biggest lesson you learned?

The biggest lesson I learned was probably how important it is to truly take the time to understand other people and their lifestyles because the more you learn about people and cultures the more you will be able to connect with the people you meet in the future. Networking is a huge part of being successful in today's world and the better you can connect and communicate with people the more likely you are to be better at your job in the future no matter what field you are in.

ECGulls: What was your favorite experience?

It is extremely hard to pick just one experience, however traveling around Ireland whether it was the west coast or the east coast was an amazing experience it was truly beautiful everywhere we went.

ECGulls: Describe the educational side of the program.

The educational side of the program is definitely different compared to Endicott, because of the different culture in Ireland, however, it wasn't necessarily the classroom setting that taught me the most on my four-month trip.

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.

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