How The Denmark Study Abroad Program Can Help Me

One of my goals is to get my bachelors in mechanical engineering. My father was a mechanical engineer and was well known for all of his achievements. What made my father so successful in his career is that he traveled to various countries so he had the opportunity to view different ways of thinking and doing things. Sadly, my father passed away during my senior year. When I chose to follow in his footsteps I knew that I had big shoes to fill in. The Denmark study abroad program will help me learn more about engineering and in which ways engineering differs from the United States.

The program involves learning about renewable energy in Denmark. Renewable energy is a subject that has always interested me because I come from a country, Honduras, which only uses nonrenewable energy and the sources have become scarce which resulted in the rationalizing of energy. I am very interested in learning more about renewable energy and the effects it can have in a country. I know that overall the use of renewable energy can lower the costs of electricity in the future and it could also help maintain the prices of electricity. Yet, the process of building a renewable energy source field can be very expensive. By attending this program I hope to learn more of what is needed in order to build a renewable energy field and if it is possible to bring renewable energy to a third world country. I chose this program because Renewable energy involves aspects of environmental, mechanical, electrical, chemical and even agricultural engineering which will help me get a better understanding of the engineering field.

The reason I chose Denmark is because it is one of the world leaders in the energy renewal field and because they are very advanced when it comes to engineering and the technology field. I hope to gain more knowledge of how advanced engineering is in Denmark. One of the reasons my father was so successful in his career is that he was able to travel to different countries and gain more perspectives in how far advanced and differently they handled mechanical engineering. I come from a country that is considered to be a third world country, so attending the program will have a positive effect in my career because based on what I learn I will be able to bring new and innovative ways of engineering. Coming from a third world country I never considered studying abroad because I never imagined I would get a chance to even contemplate the idea.

One of the many challenges I faced when considering studying abroad was being able to finance the trip. After my father passed away our financial situation changed, I was faced with not knowing if I was going to be able to further my education, it was until I moved back to the U.S that I realized how many more opportunities there were for me. When I first heard of the Denmark program I did not consider the possibility of being able to attend. After further research and speaking with advisors I found out there were offering scholarships in order to finance the trip. My first reaction was that I would be wasting my time by applying to the scholarship because I was thinking that there were probably other students who were more suitable for the scholarship. Yet, I know that in order to achieve my goals I need to overcome my fear and keep trying because it is best to know that you at least tried than to just be left with the possibility of what could have happened.

Overall being able to study abroad will make a difference in my career because I will be able to get a different perspective of Denmark. One experience the study abroad program offers is staying with a host family which will help me get a better understanding of Denmark and how our culture differs from theirs. Studying abroad will not only help me understand more of engineering but it will also broaden my experience. With the Gilman Scholarship I hope to be given the chance to study abroad and gain more opportunities that will make a positive effect in my future.