Furman Engaged Reflection

Giselle Osorio

At first I didn’t know how to feel about Furman Engaged, but I wasn’t too excited. However, as the week went by, I felt my excitement for Furman Engaged increase. It wasn’t just the thought of not having classes that made me excited, it was the thought of learning and hearing from fellow students. I went to two sessions, both of which I immensely enjoyed. The first session I went to, however, resonated with me. Three students, French majors, talked about their semester in the French city of Rennes. Though I don’t know a word in French, and I don’t plan on studying in France, I have been considering studying abroad in Japan and I thought the session was very informative. The three students had great personalities and anyone in the room could see and feel just how much they had enjoyed their time in France. They talked about their classes, their host families, and their travels across Europe. Studying abroad sounds and seems scary and the three students acknowledged that, but their anecdotes made me realize just how worth it studying abroad is. I’m the first person in my family to go to college, and when your family’s living paycheck to paycheck, going outside the country isn’t exactly an option. However, I am fortunate to be at an institution such as Furman because of the many study away opportunities. Hearing those three students talk about their experiences made me want to spend a semester in Japan even more. I know it won’t be an easy experience if I am given the opportunity to study in Japan, but I’m “hungry” to immerse myself in Japanese culture and improve my Japanese. I wouldn’t have found the reassurance to continue pursuing an opportunity to study in Japan had it not been for these students and Furman Engaged.