Meet Kyan Camacho

Impact of my global learning experience

I had the opportunity to join 14 classmates and a faculty member from the DAN Management faculty on this trip. Throughout my four months living in Nijmegen, I had the chance to truly learn how to become content and stable living independently and away from what I was used to in Canada. During my time at Radboud University, I had the chance to learn about an entirely new culture both academically and personally. I believe that this experience helped me understand global perspectives and how every individual's background and knowledge can be sculpted into truly wonderful interactions when we are brought together. My time away also helped sculpt my objectives and goals in my personal and professional life, which I am proactively working towards every day.

Why I chose Western

My parents really pushed me to go to university away from our home in BC. At the time, it was a very nerve-racking experience; leaving my friends, family, and everything else that came along with my childhood. However, over the past three years, I have begun a new life as a Western student. This has allowed me to foster new friendships, learn how to live away from family, and experience many other life-changing experiences. Western serves as an environment for me to learn about myself, others, and the City of London, and to balance fun and hard work academically. Moreover, I am truly grateful for choosing to participate in a study abroad experience, as I can walk away with a new sense of numerous different cultures, cuisines, and new relationships that span across the globe.

Other highlights from my Western experience

• Travelling to 13 different countries
• Visiting Africa for the first time
• Building global friendships that allow me to visit my new friends wherever I travel in the future
• Experiencing multiple different cultures and cuisines from around the world
• Experiencing first-hand how others live, which have opened new perspectives in my way of thinking in my daily life

A fun fact about me

I love being on the ocean and work as a yacht captain as well as instructor during my summers back home in BC!

My advice for students considering going abroad

I'll keep it short and sweet...Apply for any abroad experience before you start having second thoughts. There is not a single regret I have about going on exchange, and I believe that you can truly cultivate a memorable and life-changing experience during your time abroad, depending on what your goals are.