Heather Floyd '09

Upon finishing Community College, I began looking at local colleges that I could commute to easily. I looked at a few colleges in my area but felt they were not a good fit. A friend that lived in Frederick County told me about how beautiful Hood's campus was. She said that Hood had an excellent reputation for providing students with a quality education. She encouraged me to visit the campus and get more information. I decided to drive up to Hood and tour the campus. I fell in love with the campus and the overall atmosphere. I spoke to admissions and received more information about my intended major. The staff members were friendly, and after meeting them and seeing the beautiful campus, I knew this was the place for me.

When I began my junior year, I learned about a Summer Abroad program sponsored by the Social Work Department. Hood collaborated with other local colleges to send students to Ireland for social work experience. The program was developed to place social work students into agencies to experience social work practices in other countries. I thought this was an excellent opportunity to live abroad while learning about social work in another country. I chose Ireland because it aligned with my interest and passion for social work.

It was a fantastic experience. We lived in furnished apartments that were close to the local college, St. Mary's. I lived with other students that I had never met before due to being from different colleges in Maryland. I remember the first day we arrived. The instructor gave me a printed map with an address and said, "Go find your agency." I was excited and terrified at the same time. I walked through Limerick to find my agency. I was impressed at how kind the locals were. I stopped and asked for directions, and they pointed me in the right direction and walked me to the end of the street. I spent time touring the country and bonding with my fellow students. The best part of the experience was the work I was doing with my agency. I worked with gay and lesbian youth and participated in group therapy. I felt like I made a difference in these children's lives by helping them with their struggles and providing them with resources to support them better.

We did not have any formal classes in a classroom, the meetings and classes were held in our instructor's apartment. We would discuss our field placements as well as any challenges we may have encountered. Our assignments focused on what we were doing in our fieldwork. I did not get to experience the Irish classroom setting, but I did have experiences being able to spend time with the locals and being shown the country by co-workers and supervisors.

I have many favorite experiences from my time in Ireland, but there are two specific memories that I recall most fondly. The first was seeing Bunratty Castle. Not only was the castle visually breathtaking, it also had a local village and various animals. You could sense the history just from walking up the castle steps and seeing all the original stained glass and furniture. The other experience that will always stand out for me occurred at a local pub. I was there getting a drink and taking a break. The pub was filled with locals that began to sing songs. They all joined in unison and encouraged all who did not know the song to sing with them. It was an amazing sight to see both young and old singing at the local pub over a pint.

I highly recommend that students should study abroad if given the opportunity. It is an experience that many cannot have and one that will stay with you throughout the rest of your education, career, and life. It was a fantastic experience to see how people live in another country and work with the local population.