When reflecting on travel I always find it so hard to narrow my experience down to one memory or moment. It is difficult to capture what defines a trip of a lifetime like our travels through the Galapagos. In doing so I would have to point to the threads that tied this trip together. Firstly, SPC Study abroad program and group we traveled with, who by the end of the trip started to feel like those friends you have known so long they become family. Next the Intercultural Outreach Program who hosted us and gave us access to truly incredible destinations we would not have otherwise had the ability to visit as tourists. And finally, my personal favorite the Sweet little treats.

My family likes to joke that I travel from meal to meal, because I take pictures of my food, and always post them on my social media. But the truth is I find those are the moments you truly connect with the people around you. Whether it was trying new things, or encouraging and supporting others to, each and every meal was a moment we slowed down, reflected on what we had been doing and not only shared a meal but laughter, personal wins and most importantly memories. From day to day where we ate or who we ate with changed but what didn’t change was the quality of food and connection shared. These kinds of programs and trips give once in a lifetime opportunities and make experiences like these accessible to students like me.

So to the single mother, the student who has to work full time to support themselves through college, the student who comes from a small area, or doesn’t have much experience navigating the world alone Study Abroad programs are a way for you to see the world in a completely different way.

– Lytichia, SPC Galápagos Islands Study Abroad Program, May 2026