Boris Henriquez
As a Sociology major, Boris studied with a group of UBC students and professors as a part of the Arts Term Abroad in Global Citizenship Group Study Program in Guatemala.
What was the highlight of your experience?
I have to say the best part of this program was getting the chance to work so closely with other students and the professors. Normally in class you don’t get a chance to know your peers or your instructors all that well and outside of the classroom there is even less contact with them. In the group study program you’re working on something new with your peers everyday. The professors are always available to answer questions, go over material or to just talk about the volunteer experiences and your interactions with the surrounding community. It’s a level of collaborative participation that you don’t usually get in a regular classroom. Every day was so different from the next. One of my favorite days included building a stove with my professor. We spent the afternoon digging up holes, chopping up cinder blocks and leveling the ground all while practicing our Spanish and afterwards we all went out together to eat at a local restaurant. It’s the kind of day you can’t experience just anywhere.
Why did you choose this particular program?
I recently declared my major in sociology and ever since then I have I’ve been trying to really immerse myself in the major concepts I’ve learnt in my classes. I thought going into a program that would teach me the theory and provide me an opportunity to experience these theories in practice would help me get a better understanding of the material. I want to observe social processes and not just the ones I have been experiencing back home, but ones that are radically different from my own. I want to develop a perspective that can take into account the experience of a multitude of people and places and I thought trying to learn about the experiences of a different culture would be a step in the right direction.
How has this opportunity impacted your studies/career?
If anything the experience only made me more passionate about my area of study. It makes a world of a difference to learn the material in an environment that is constantly pushing you to think critically about the material. It has definitely given me a lot more focus on the topics that really interest me in my field and I am excited to try out new programs that will offer me increased insight on sociological processes and their effect on community health
How has this opportunity impacted you personally?
It’s made me take a second look at the things that I thought I knew about myself. There are so many situations that come up that are so different then what I was use to and how I handled them gave me a new sense of what I’m capable of. It really puts you in a situation where you got to learn to adapt and go with the flow because you come across unique challenges and there are a lot fewer resources available to you to deal with them compared to back home.
What would you say to other students thinking about going global before they graduate?
I would say you should definitely do it. It’s such a great opportunity to take your education further and you learn so much about yourself in the process of learning about the material. You get a whole new sense of people and places that you can’t get from just traveling or sitting in a classroom. It’s the combination of the two that really make this experience what it is. This has been the best experience of my academic career up to date and I would recommend it to any student.
