Yaritza Mora clutched her boarding pass and took a deep breath. Alone at the airport, bound for Barcelona, she wasn't just crossing time zones - she was crossing into a new phase of life.
She had traveled before, but never solo. This time, every step - from navigating terminals to finding her gate - felt like a rite of passage.
She had traveled once before with her mother to Italy, but this was different. This time, she was alone.
"Being at the airport by myself, paying attention, making sure I got to the right place, it felt like one step closer to being an adult," she said. "In school it's one thing, but when you're on your own like that, now you're really an adult."
Mora, then a UC Merced junior, spent six weeks in Spain completing coursework for her minor in Spanish. She expected a straightforward routine of classes and homework with some sightseeing but quickly learned that studying abroad had a lot more in store for her.
From navigating housing and figuring out a 40-minute bus commute to adjusting to late-night dinners and afternoon siestas, every detail was part of a larger lesson in independence and adaptability.
The experience provided Mora with an abundance of self-confidence and a passion to see more of the world. Since her time in Barcelona, she has completed programs in Ghana and Mexico.
And she's just getting started.
"It really opened my eyes to what's out there, and I just want to keep seeing more," she said.
Beyond Travel
Mora's journey is one example of how UC Merced students expand their horizons through the UC Education Abroad Program . With more than 40 programs worldwide, students can spend six weeks, a semester or a year immersed in new cultures and classrooms.
UC Merced's Study Abroad program is so robust that the university was recognized this year by the U.S. Department of State's Gilman Program as a 25th Anniversary Top Producing Institution in the Medium Colleges and Universities category. The Gilman Program supports undergraduate students looking to develop essential career skills through study and intern abroad experiences.
For Assistant Director of Study Abroad Craig R. Harmelin, the program is about more than travel. It's about transformation.
"A lot of people think of the fun parts like traveling and seeing the world, but it's really adulting on steroids," he said. "Students are placed in unfamiliar environments and have to develop resilience, leadership, flexibility, cross-cultural communication and problem-solving skills."
"Imagine losing your passport abroad," Harmelin continued, "or figuring out housing in another language. You learn to adapt quickly."
That adaptability can reshape academic and career paths in unexpected ways.
Brandon's Leap
While Mora's adventure began in Spain, Brandon Sequeira's path took him even farther - starting in Italy and stretching across three continents.
The Buhach Colony High School graduate hadn't traveled much before coming to UC Merced. Inspired by a friend's study abroad experience, he convinced his parents to let him participate in a program in Italy.
It helped that the costs would be covered by scholarships, but to ease their worries about their son spending his first college semester abroad, Sequeira agreed to live with a host family.
This led him to take a course in Italian for better communication with his hosts. Learning the local language is not a program requirement, but it is encouraged, and Sequeira showcased his new skill when his parents visited him and his host family toward the end of his time there.
Three Trips, One Goal
Italy was just the beginning. Energized by his first experience, Sequeira quickly signed up for two more programs, each more immersive than the last.
"I ended up doing three programs back-to-back-to-back," Sequeira said. "First Italy, then Botswana and then I did Semester at Sea."
In Botswana, Sequeira's focus on public health put him in the field alongside Doctors Without Borders. He shadowed physicians in rural clinics, helped set up village health expos and distributed food to families. The experience was life-changing.
Sequeira's final program, Semester at Sea, took him to 12 countries along the Mediterranean. Classes were held on a ship, with coursework tied to excursions in each port. Archaeology meant exploring ruins; political science meant visiting government buildings.
"It was like a cruise ship with classes," Sequeira said with a laugh, adding that it was tough at times to stay focused with the ocean out the window. "You learn discipline and you remember why you're there and how you have to pass your classes if you want to graduate."
A Broader View
Sequeira returned home with a new worldview and a resume that stood out. He worked in UC Merced's Office of International Affairs and created a checklist to help other students prepare for Study Abroad; and shared his story with anyone considering the program.
He also graduated early, joined the Army as a medic, and is now pursuing a master's degree with military support, all while continuing to travel. By his own count, he has visited 42 countries.
Sequeira's story is far from unique. Harmelin said these kinds of transformations are common - and deeply impactful. Students return more confident, more independent and more globally aware. They also come back with perspectives that enrich the UC Merced community.
"Academically, our students get access to some of the most prestigious institutions in the world," he said. "Personally, they learn to navigate ambiguity, lead and create. They come back with a new sense of how big the world is - and how small it is, too."
Opening Doors
One of the first questions students and families ask is: Can we afford it? Harmelin said the answer might surprise people. With financial aid and scholarships, students often find a semester in Italy or Barcelona can cost no more than a semester in Merced. That access is critical, especially for Central Valley students who may not have had international opportunities.
"I grew up here, and I always felt the Valley was geographically isolated," Harmelin said. "I studied abroad myself in Venice during 9/11, and it changed me. I came back to UC Merced because I wanted to provide that same opportunity to students here."
Mora, reflecting on her first solo adventure in Barcelona, put it simply.
"If you're in that mental space and it's available financially, you should do it. You may not have another chance like this for a long time."
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