05/08/2026
Congratulations to our global graduate, Ella Barker!!♥️🎓
“I took part in an exchange program at Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. I was drawn to the program because most of it took place in the Galápagos Islands, but I also got the chance to live in the Andes Mountains and visit the Amazon rainforest. My time in Ecuador, on the Islands and on the mainland, was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. As a student in Environmental, Sustainability, and Geographic Studies and Biology, this program was right in the crux of my interests in conservation and ecology. I feel infinitely grateful for all that I got to experience on that trip. Getting to live with host families in Ecuador was a wildly eye-opening experience for me. My host families did not share a culture or even a language with me, yet they were more than willing to open their homes and families to accept me as a member of their own. This was an intensely humbling experience and one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. My time in Ecuador showed me that there was so much more to the world than I could have ever imagined. I climbed volcanoes, swam with sharks, tried new foods, took salsa dance classes, and played with sea lions on the beach. It showed me so many new ways of living as well as giving me the chance to work closely with professionals and other students in the natural sciences, giving me a renewed desire to excel in the field. Even two years after my trip to Ecuador, I am still close friends with the other students in my program and I love hearing about all the amazing things they are up to now!
Studying abroad is a wholly unique experience and can be very nerve wracking to prepare for. My advice would be to go into your program with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Don’t be afraid to ask your advisors here at WKU for help, especially if finances are an obstacle for you, or if you are anxious about being in a new country. Say yes to new things and give yourself the chance to step out of the comfort zone. You never know what random adventures you may come upon if you let yourself try!”
