Poly Ignacio, a Chapman University student who studied abroad at both Temple Rome in Fall 2022 and Temple Japan in Fall 2023, shares her experience and wisdom for future students.
Q: What made you want to complete a full year abroad with Temple, spending the fall in Rome and the spring in Tokyo?
A: When I first started attending Chapman University, one of the major appealing things about the university was the opportunity to study abroad and the variety of programs that were offered. I was really drawn to Temple because of the American curriculum. Also, I receive veteran benefits, so as Temple is an American university, that simplified the process of using my benefits abroad. Additionally, all my Chapman financial aid was able to apply to the programs, so Temple was a very good option for me financially. And the opportunity to go to two different parts of the world really interested me. The support I got from the faculty there and the experience of being in cohorts with students from Temple main campus, lots of other universities around the U.S., and students from many other countries was one of the best and most life-changing opportunities I’ve had.
Q: I know you’re an International Business major. Could you share what your career aspirations are and how you think your time abroad with Temple might contribute to helping you reach your goals?
A: I actually just recently switched my major at Chapman from International Business to Strategic & Corporate Communication, and that decision was really influenced by my time abroad on both Temple campuses. I was able to take business classes like “Fundamentals of European Business” with Professor Paganini at Temple Rome and “Advertising and Globalization” with Professor Foster at Temple Japan, so having this realm of experience with professors who really specialize in these aspects of international business and international communication inspired me to diversify. And at the same time, they were really encouraging me to explore different interests I have, all of which led to adjusting my major to a different aspect of business. Something that really interests me now after studying abroad, for example, is more foreign-service-related business opportunities with the federal government. Also, my experience at Temple was all part of my experience as a Gilman scholar, which is basically like an undergraduate merit scholarship from the Department of Education for study abroad students who receive Pell Grants, so all of these experiences collectively have really propelled me to succeed in life. I identify as a first-generation college student, and these are opportunities I never thought I would get the chance to experience. So being supported by Temple and Chapman and the Gilman program really changed my life. I’m in a position now where I’m able to give back to first-generation college students as a Peer Advisor in Chapman’s Center for Global Education, be a really competitive candidate for graduate school, and be a competitive candidate for employment, so a lot of good things came out of this experience.
Q: What were some of the biggest lessons that you learned while studying abroad in Rome and Tokyo?
A: I learned a lot: personally, academically, and professionally. In terms of major takeaways, the first was that there’s traditionally been a lack of access to study abroad programs for a lot of first-generation students, students of color, etc. It was very empowering for me to experience study abroad as a first-gen, mixed-race woman of color who identifies as having a disability and is the daughter of a veteran. I was given all of these opportunities to participate in this program that haven’t historically been accessible for people who come from my kind of background, so it empowered me to represent not only Chapman University and Temple University but also the U.S. itself. A lot of the time there’s this perception that the U.S. is very homogenous; people abroad expect most Americans to be white, so it was great to feel like an ambassador of the U.S. for people abroad who had probably never met somebody like me. I also had a lot of personal growth, learning how to navigate foreign countries, learning other languages, and being able to compare and contrast these two very different areas of the world. It was one of the most life-changing and empowering experiences, and I highly recommend both Temple Rome and Temple Japan to future students.
