Isabella Ten Have, a sophomore from Miami, spent half of her semester studying abroad in the Netherlands before returning home to complete the rest of her school term. The experience gave her a fresh perspective on both academics and life back in her hometown.
Isabella’s journey began last fall when her mother influenced her to travel abroad for school. She wanted her to be more open to exploring and adapting to new environments, and living in a new country allowed her to learn a new language and education system before returning home.
“I decided to study abroad during my freshman year because my mom influenced me. When my mom turned fifteen, she used to live in Brasilia, Brazil, but she studied abroad and came to Orlando and finished high school,” Ten Have said.
Isabella left for the Netherlands mid-summer. There, she enrolled in a local high school for the first quarter of the school year. During this time, she attended classes and became deeply involved in the community and traditional activities.
“The transition to the new country was very unusual because I was living alone, not so much as it was in the Netherlands. I have never lived alone, so the fact that I was now alone made me homesick for the first week, and I just had a lot of shocks. In Miami, there are so many Latin people, so to have met these new people changed my point of view of the world and about other cultures,” Ten Have said.
Her travels overseas taught her great lessons about adaptability and flexibility. Being away from home, handling her schoolwork in a new language, and navigating daily life in a foreign country were all obstacles that aided her intellectual and personal development.
“The education system there was not like the one in America. Classes were more difficult but not as strict, and it was kind of hard to socialize with everyone at first,” Ten Have said.
After her time away, Isabella returned to Miami after winter break for the remaining part of the school year. She could transition back into her regular schedule, picking up where she left off in her courses while also adding the new skills she learned from school abroad.
“This experience has been life-changing. While I was there, I picked up horseback riding since all my friends were professional horseback riders. The trip in general helped me find new habits that I enjoy doing,” Ten Have said.
Many students are also excited about the amazing opportunity Isa had. Peer and sophomore Andrea Cavarallaro has considered completing some time abroad after hearing her friend’s stories.
“I have always wanted to be able to experience a new country’s culture and education system. After hearing my friend have such a fun time, a trip like this will be something I would want to consider for the upcoming school year,” Cavallaro said.
Isabella’s education has expanded beyond the classroom, shaping her into a well-rounded student who is willing to take on any new challenges.
