Meet Alyssa Lopes

Impact of my global learning experience

My learning experience was absolutely amazing. It had such an impact on my life. I made friends from other countries and learned about their cultures and traditions while we all lived together in another country and assimilated into their cultures. I felt a sense of home in Aarhus, and I would recommend an exchange to anyone who is lucky enough to have the opportunity to do it.

Why I chose Western

I chose to come to Western because of the Media, Information & Technoculture (MIT) program, as I felt it catered to my needs and aligned with what I wanted to learn. When I first found out about Western and learned about the program, another thing that grabbed my attention was the fact that there was the opportunity to do an exchange semester, which is something I had wanted to do for a long time.

Other highlights from my Western experience

My Western experience has been amazing so far, as I've made both friends and memories for life. I love living with my roommates, having movie nights with all of my friends, taking classes that are meaningful to me and my interests, and exploring possible future career opportunities.

A fun fact about me

A fun fact about me is that I've seen two wonders of the world: Machu Picchu in Peru, and very recently, the Colosseum in Rome.

My advice for new students or students considering going abroad

I would encourage every student who has the opportunity to go abroad, even if they are going alone or are scared about it. That's normal, but after the first week, you will find your people and will make friends for life. It's an experience that feels surreal, and I wanted to be a Global Learning Ambassador to encourage other students to do the same.

Going on my exchange was the best thing I've ever done. I want to help encourage students to take the risk and help them settle into a process that is fun and exciting, but can also be difficult and nerve-racking at times.