I am studying abroad this semester through the Warnell College of Forestry and Natural Resources Discover Abroad program in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Fiji.

I am not a forestry student or close – I major in International Affairs, English, and Economics. Even though the program counts for credit for my international affairs degree, I didn’t know what to expect academically.

My program has been excellent and multifaceted–we frequently hike for a few miles and stop to listen to lectures on the side of the track, watching waves crash against a cliff, or birds fly through the air while listening to our professors or field guides.

Being in a room of Terry and Warnell majors and learning about geology, sustainability, and natural resources has made me realize how valuable and applicable everything I’ve learned in SPIA was.

As part of the program, we frequently debate sustainable development issues – whether to build a marina or update an observatory on top of a Hawaiian sacred site. I am well-prepared for this high level of discussion because of my SPIA classes.

After having taken INTL 3200 with Dr. Owsiak, where I was tasked with my classmates to simulate the U.N. Security Council during the Rwandan Genocide, I wasn’t just ready for these debates abroad – I was confident, comfortable, and quick to catch onto issues and prepare my talking points.

The high level of analysis required in SPIA courses has made me question everything this semester, from why the Aborigine names are used on some traditional sites and not others to why some cities in Australia have many public transit options, and others have barely any.

My SPIA education hasn’t just prepared me to succeed in International Affairs but also in any space where I have to read, write, speak, and think. Much to the disappointment of some of my classmates, my current program hasn’t turned me into a Forestry major but instead made me more confident that I’m on the right path.

• Anna Rachwalski – SPIA Ambassador