Selah Wilcox

Overall Experience

Taking part in the Belize program was a really great experience that helped me grow both personally and academically. Living and working in a completely new environment challenged me to step out of my routine and become a lot more independent. Academically, it was great to see how biology and anthropology work outside of a classroom. Touring historical sites like Caracol and learning about ancient Mayan medicine and cultural healing traditions gave me a real-world look at different belief systems. At the same time, doing field work at the T.R.E.E.S. station with bird banding and snorkeling around the Smithsonian reef site gave me a much better understanding of wildlife biology. Actually seeing these ecosystems and communities firsthand made the concepts from my textbooks make a lot more sense. Overall, the trip gave me a lot of practical skills and a better perspective on my studies, and it is something I am really glad I did.

Learning experience

The most valuable learning experience for me was realizing that you really just need to say yes to new opportunities, even when they scare you. Whether it was being the first person to volunteer for a hands-on task in the field or traveling out of the country without knowing anyone beforehand, it was definitely intimidating at first. However, pushing myself completely out of my comfort zone showed me just how much you can accomplish and experience by simply being willing to try.

Memorable experience

The most memorable experience for me was learning about ancient Mayan medicine and their cultural healing traditions. It was cool to see how they used the earth and natural environment for so much more than we do today, especially when it came to using plants and native vegetation for herbal remedies.

What did you not expect?

Something that really surprised me was just how genuinely kind most people are. Going into this trip, I was definitely scared about not making friends, not getting along with people I wouldn't normally hang out with, or even that the locals wouldn't want us there or want to talk to us. It was so refreshing to be surrounded by people who were just genuinely nice. I ended up having great conversations with people even when we had a language barrier. Normally, I am more introverted, and I don't think I have ever talked to this many random people before, but hearing their personal stories and their experiences with their country was amazing. This has definitely changed how I want to approach my life and future profession; it taught me to stop letting overthinking or social anxiety hold me back and instead open up to people, because you never know what kind of great connection or story you might miss out on.

What advice would you give?

My advice is to just go for it and do it. I was so scared leading up to the trip that I wouldn't make any friends, but I ended up making some really great ones. It is such a fun experience because you get to know your professors on a much deeper level while also building new friendships with people you might not have met otherwise. I know the idea of it can be incredibly scary at first, but pushing past that fear is completely worth it because the whole experience is just so rewarding.

How has this experience impacted your life?

This experience has significantly impacted my life by giving me a completely new perspective on what it means to be a lifelong learner. Seeing how much there was to absorb outside of a standard classroom made me realize that education doesn't stop when you graduate. Gaining that firsthand cultural experience was amazing, and it was so cool to see how the people there live and navigate their daily lives. Additionally, the trip helped me understand how to build international connections. Hearing about the different field studies and seeing how everyone works together really showed me how connected we all are globally. Long-term, this experience will definitely help me as I pursue my career, giving me the confidence to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and stay curious about new ways of looking at my field.

How did you learn about this experience?

I first heard about this opportunity from a friend of mine who has studied abroad multiple times and highly recommended looking into the university's programs.

International Connections