October 18, 2010
St. John’s University offers its students an almost limitless
array of opportunities to study abroad and encourages all of them
to go global. Some even do it more than once.
Stephanie Flory ‘09C, ‘11G is one of many students who have chosen
the benefits of going global at every point in her St. John’s
education — in her graduate as well as undergraduate studies.
This past spring, Stephanie, who is earning her master’s degree in
Speech Pathology, traveled to Guatemala for a week-long program
volunteering at a hospital-orphanage that serves children who have
difficulty with swallowing and feeding. “It was truly a
life-changing experience,” she said. While addressing the clinical
needs of the children, she stressed, “there was a lot of personal
contact — holding, playing and just being present for them.”
In a nation that lacks basic resources and desperately needs
assistance from those willing to serve, Stephanie and her fellow
St. John’s students also held fundraisers and were able to purchase
urgently-needed supplies for the hospital.
Stephanie
had her first study abroad experience at St. John’s as an
undergraduate major in
Speech Pathology and Italian. Taking advantage of St. John’s
international presence, Stephanie spent a semester at the
University’s Rome campus.
She strengthened her Italian-language skills while interning with
the Italian government. “It was very intense,” she said. “We
learned about Italian culture in class, but what better way to
learn than experiencing it first-hand?”
Global Studies is a vital part of a St. John’s education.
Students can spend a semester, winter or summer break living and
learning at locations throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Through St. John’s innovative “
Discover the World” program, students can earn 15 credits in
three cities in a single semester.
Read Stephanie’s full story.