Wolf had unique start to Study Abroad trip as student regent
It would be natural for every student to be excited and probably nervous when it's time to leave for Study Abroad. Andrew Wolf felt the same way, but if the flight attendant saw him biting his lip, it was for another reason.
When Wolf made his journey to St. George's University in Grenada, West Indies, he was carrying something extra with his luggage. A big secret.
Wolf was going to be announced as Gov. Greg Abbot's selection as student regent for MSU Texas, and he couldn't tell anyone. Maybe he could have gotten by with telling the flight attendant or a stranger on the flight, but Wolf kept the good news inside.
The announcement was just one more golden memory for Wolf on a memorable trip that confirmed to the Midwestern State University junior that he's on the right path to medical school.
“It was hard keeping that secret,” Wolf said. “I told my professors two days before they announced it and it was announced (in May) halfway through my stay.”
Wolf did have an MSU T-shirt with him for a photo. He thought about not being in Texas when the Governor's office released the news, but it was “cool being in a different country when they announced it.”
He called the experience of Study Abroad “very rewarding.” He studied global health and wellness.
“It was amazing studying at medical school. I was immersed in it and learned their lifestyle and what they do each day,” Wolf said. “I'm a chemistry and biology double major, and everything reinforced my drive to go to medical school. It went to show me physicians are everywhere and put in perspective that you can go to a different country and practice medicine.”
Wolf enjoyed working on his research project and the free time to explore. He's hoping to be able to do an internship in the summer of 2020, similar to his friend and MSU Texas student Matthew Mitchell experienced at the National Institute of Health in 2019. If not, he said he'd jump at a chance to participate in Study Abroad again. He encourages others to try it, too.
“I gained perspective on things that I wouldn't have thought of,” Wolf said. “It was a smaller country and a developing country where the United States is so big. The research project was compressed, but you still have time to do a lot of awesome stuff you wouldn't get to do in Wichita Falls.”
Wolf and Mitchell, from nearby Windthorst and Henrietta, respectively, chose to stay close to home at MSU Texas. It sure didn't prevent them from a broad academic experience.
“Small towns, big dreams,” Wolf said.
Andrew Wolf, junior, MSU Texas
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK WITH MSU TEXAS STUDY ABROAD
This sharing Study Abroad series is in celebration of International Education Week.
The Study Abroad program at Midwestern State University has allowed hundreds of students to experience learning in a unique setting.
The program set a record with 146 students in 2019. The majority participated in classes in London (104), followed by Grenada (23), Spain (15), and France (4). Prague will be added in 2020.
The participation for London has surpassed 90 students in three of the last four years. The highest enrollment for Spain was 23 in 2018.
Dr. Michael Mills is the International Education Director at Midwestern State University.
MSU Texas offers students in all disciplines the opportunity to take advantage of academically based programs in France, Spain, and England. Language-based programs in Spain and France are available during summer I. The program in London during summer II offers numerous classes in a variety of academic disciplines. Students interested in the sciences can participate in a short course in Central America with a focus on biology, botany, and environmental science. Scholarships and financial aid are available for all programs.
