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My name is Romina and I spent a Year Abroad at the University of Western Ontario in Canada.

Studying abroad has not only developed my personal skills – it’s also enhanced my academic performance and taught me lessons which I will carry to my future employment.

Throughout my time at Western I attended classes and lectures, took exams and tests, and completed both solo and group assignments. The classes which I chose were relevant to my degree and have provided me with extra support in the areas which I am most interested in.

For example, the Animal Behaviour module allowed me develop my behavioural analysis skills in both a practical lab setting, as well as challenged me to think about animal behaviour in relation to ethology and genetics. As my degree specialisation surrounds animal behaviour, this class has built upon my classes at Bangor and made me feel more knowledgeable and confident entering my final year.

As well as attending classes on familiar subjects, I also learned about topics which were entirely new to me. For example, Climate Change: Past and Future took a collaborative and hands-on approach to the topic to explain how climate will impact animal life in the future, which is very relevant to my degree. This class combined an understanding of legislation, negotiation, research, company policy, and environmental science, all topics that I discovered a passion for after taking this class.

Elective courses such as Geography of Canada made me better appreciate the environment and taught me environmental and historical facts about Canada, providing me the tools to expand my cultural knowledge.

My IEY at Western Ontario not only benefitted me academically - it also allowed me to develop many personal skills. I became more confident in meeting new people, asking for help in unfamiliar situations, and in public speaking. It really helped me develop my people skills and to connect with people from across the world. My experience also made me more adaptable, more flexible and more resilient. I feel very comfortable doing things solo now, which I believe has come from newfound confidence in myself. Travelling to a new continent alone has allowed me to rely on myself more, and to understand myself and my goals for the future further. Although my host university was in Southern Ontario, in my free time I was able to travel to British Columbia and visit landmarks such as Niagara Falls. These experiences have broadened my understanding of indigenous culture in Canada, and the North American environment.

As the field of zoology and natural science deals with global problems which must be resolved through collaboration and mutual understanding, I believe that my Year Abroad experiencing new cultures, developing my global perspective, and discovering the natural environment of a new continent will benefit me in this field. The courses I took allowed me to develop my research and lab skills, as well as to understand the zoological and environmental legislation of a different country giving me a point of comparison by which I can view the methods and legislation we implement in the UK. My newfound adaptability, confidence, and ability to undertake large projects which require me to think in the moment and be flexible will enhance my skillset for further employment.