Ashley Beard is an electrical engineering student at Texas Tech University heading into her sophomore year. An Arizona native, Ashley studied abroad in order to fulfill her university's requirement for her degree. The Summer Engineering Program with CEA best fit her needs and interests, so she didn't think twice about Paris being her destination.
Ashley spends her mornings at home either studying and doing homework or taking time for herself before having to be at the CEA Study Abroad Center for her class that starts later in the day. Calculus III is the 6-week course she took on this summer. By prioritizing, Ashley has done a great job in balancing the rigor of her engineering course with the excitement of socializing and traveling.
"I now have more of a well-rounded view of what it's like living in a new country, showing that I am flexible with change."
Through her program, Ashley has met many friends that she hangs out with daily. Having the freedom to travel and be independent is something that Ashley has really appreciated about being abroad. New friends and the people she's spent time with abroad are what have made her experience so memorable.
Ashley decided to live in a homestay this summer to get immersed into local French culture through dinners and conversation. Ashley muses at how commuting on the metro is also a way to feel close to locals -- literally. Having more access to public transportation is something Ashley enjoys, since it gives her easy access to see more of the city. Acknowledging her priorities and being mindful of her responsibilities is what makes Ashley's free time valuable.
Kiara Perez is a CEA Summer 2019 Onsite Alumni Ambassador who studied abroad in Paris, France, during the Fall 2017 semester. She is an alumna of the University of Arizona.