ELON EXERCISE SCIENCE MAJOR SEEKS GUIDANCE ON STUDYING ABROAD IN SOUTH AMERICA

#engagementstory

By MAX LEISTEN

Daring to study abroad is a bold and transformative step, often filled with excitement and uncertainty. Venturing into a new culture, language, and way of life requires courage, but having the right guidance can make all the difference. With the help of those who have been there before, students can navigate the complexities of choosing a destination, finding opportunities, and preparing for the journey.

For one Elon exercise science major, connecting with alumni and receiving thoughtful advice didn’t just clarify their path—it gave them hope. Hearing about diverse opportunities and experiences opened their eyes to possibilities they hadn’t considered, proving that a strong support network can turn risks into incredible rewards.

Keep it simple,

Max

The "ask"

Hello, I am majoring in exercise science. I plan to become a physician assistant. I like to play sports and volunteer. I am very interested in studying abroad in South America. Is there any specific country that would provide me with the most diverse culture and opportunities? At the same time, if there are any other countries that would be very eye-opening, feel free to suggest others too. Thank you for your time!

The "give"

Hi there. I majored in exercise science as well and I have been a PA for the past 13 years. I studied abroad second semester of my sophomore year at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. It was an excellent experience, although, not particularly relevant to my path or career as a PA. I think any kind of study abroad experience is going to help open your eyes to more diversity in the world and ultimately make you a more well rounded learner and physician assistant in the future.

If you are interested in South America, I would recommend talking to the study abroad office to see if there are any programs that would allow you to fulfill classes you will need to graduate from Elon and if there are any places that have programs that would allow you to volunteer or intern with a community health or health care facility so you can see what health care is like wherever you end up studying abroad.

While in PA school I went to Uganda with OneWorld Health (https://oneworldhealth.com/) for a medical mission trip with one of my professors and some other students. They have clinics in Nicaragua and Honduras (Central America instead of South America). They have an excellent model for partnering with communities in developing countries to bring permanent, sustainable healthcare to the chronically underserved, so if you end up in either of those countries I would look into seeing if you can work with them. Or just check them out to see if serving with them separate from study abroad is something that you would be interested in.

I hope this helps and if you have any other questions, let me know.

The feedback

It was great to hear from this person. This gave me hope and opened my eyes to many different opportunities.

Ready to make it simple for everyone?

Let’s find a time for Max & team to show you just how smart, simple, and scalable it can truly be for alumni and students to connect to one another for advice and support. We promise you’ll be inspired by how artificial intelligence can be a force for good.

Protopia’s artificial intelligence technology makes it truly simple for everyone in your community to connect for advice and support. Without another app to sign up for or learn.

Delivering Alumni As A Service across the entire learner’s journey.

Welcome to the Future.

What’s Protopia?

How Can Protopia Help?

More Resources