This summer is full of exciting and unique adventures I’m grateful to have the opportunity to participate in. Starting with the first summer session, I will be studying abroad in Lima, Peru for about 5 weeks! I found the Spanish Language program I will take part in through an NC State Affiliate study abroad organization called International Study Abroad (ISA). The Study Abroad Office has been super helpful in navigating this process, especially since they offer Walk-In Advising Hours that I have utilized many times. The classes I will be taking, Advanced Spanish Grammar and Intro to Latin American Literature, will count towards my Spanish degree. I will get to explore Lima, Cusco, Iquitos, and even Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World! I am incredibly excited to be fully immersed in the Peruvian culture, especially since I will be staying with a host family for the duration of my trip.
During summer session two, I will be taking physics online through UNC Charlotte to count towards my Textile Engineering degree. I chose to take physics at UNC Charlotte because the start date worked better for my schedule since I will be returning from Peru around the same time Summer Session II classes start here at NC State. I am very fortunate to have the ability to take classes online at another university and the Transfer Course Equivalencies Portal through NC State has been incredibly useful when navigating which classes to take at another university. I have also used this tool in the past when taking classes last summer at a community college! Summer classes have allowed me a lot of flexibility when it comes to creating my schedule during the fall and spring semesters because I don’t have to cram as many credit hours into a single semester to stay on track. This option has also allowed me to submit my Change of Degree Application (CODA) before the school year started so I could enroll in major-specific classes sooner.
Once I return from studying abroad, I will also be working in the Office of Parents and Families Services! I will mainly be hosting the Parents and Families Services table at the Orientation Information Resource Fair, so if you’re a parent of an incoming student make sure to stop by and say hello! I will also be working in the office to prepare for the upcoming semester, including planning for Parents and Families Weekend! This event is the biggest event the Parents and Families Services office hosts and is full of lots of fun activities the entire family can enjoy. For 2024, Parents and Families Weekend will be on September 26th through September 29th, and you won’t want to miss out! I always enjoy seeing families spend quality time with their students on campus while exploring all that NC State has to offer.
By: Madison Chema
Parent Ally