Take a look back on this interview with former Peer Advisor Allie Capasso as she approached graduation and find out where she is now.
Interview Date: May 1, 2020
What’s your major? Do you have any minors?
Major: Strategic Communication
Minors: Spanish & Political Science
What program did you go on? Why?
I went on the Temple Spain program in the Spring of 2019. I chose this program due to its language and culture immersion and to improve my Spanish language skills. I had recently picked up a Spanish minor and knew this would be the best way to complete the minor and really hone my skills!
Did you have any experience abroad before this program?
I had been on vacations out of the country a few times with family, but this was my first real experience living abroad, and my first time in Europe.
What’s your favorite memory from that program?
My favorite memories from being on my program are just getting to travel around Asturias and experience all the beauty that the region has to offer. On weekends, my friends and I would often take day trips to different parts of Asturias and go hiking or exploring. Asturias is such a breathtaking and mountainous region, and the bus systems in Spain are really efficient. Even just getting around and exploring parts of Oviedo on my own that I hadn’t explored yet was one of my favorite things to do. The city was somewhat small, but this made it really walkable, so you could always wander around to new areas and find some hidden gems.
What’s the most important thing you learned from this program, be it personal or academic growth?
The most important thing I took away from this program was a stronger grasp on the Spanish language and a strong sense of independence. Moving to a new city where English is not widely spoken made me much more resilient and a lot more confident in my own abilities to adapt to new situations. Language mess-ups, missed buses, and travel mishaps are inevitable, but it’s part of the learning experience and will only help you learn and grow in the long run.
What are you doing after graduation?
Post-grad, I’ll be working as a field organizer working on campaigns for the 2020 election. I recently accepted a position as a Corps Member for Organizing Corps 2020, a program that recruits first-time organizers and trains them on the skills they need to be effective organizers.
How did your time studying abroad impact your post-grad plans?
Study abroad gave me a new kind of confidence and independence that I have taken with me in all other aspects of my life. I know that the skills I gained studying abroad gave me the confidence necessary to put myself out there in the job hunting process. I also definitely see myself going abroad again at some point in the future. I don’t know when or what that will look like yet; but ever since I came back to the U.S. in May 2019, I’ve been itching for more!
Any advice for current Temple students who want to go abroad?
My best advice to students studying abroad is to go somewhere/choose a program that will push you out of your comfort zone! You can get so much personal growth out of your study abroad program if you allow yourself to. Try new foods, learn a new language, and meet new people!
Where is Allie now?
Join us April 16, 2021, 12pm ET for an alumni chat with Allie and other former Peer Advisors, to learn about her life after graduation and how studying abroad prepared her for success.