Enrique is a fourth-year student at Penn State University Park majoring in Industrial Engineering and minoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. During spring 2024, Enrique studied abroad in Singapore through our National University of Singapore Exchange Program.
Continue reading to learn more about Enrique's highlights of his time in Singapore in his own words, why he chose his program, the lessons he took away, how studying abroad was formative to his future, and his advice for students interested in studying abroad!
Enrique at Marina Bay Sands.
Enrique at Shinto Temple near Mount Fuji.
"Studying abroad in Singapore was the best combination of immersing myself in an unknown culture and also exposing myself to different perspectives and ways of life. There, I took regression analysis and religion in Southeast Asia courses, and also learn simplified Chinese to immerse into the new the culture. Over my free time, I was able to connect with other exchangers to plan trips over the weekend to other countries. Also, I met local people who showed me around the city, helped me adapt to the academic dynamic, and invited me to play in an intramural soccer tournament. Overall, it was a complete experience, and I will encourage everyone to try to exit their comfort zone by exploring unimaginable destinations.
I've always had a desire and curiosity for experiencing faraway cultures, and in Singapore, being a highly developed country with the most prestigious university in Asia, I was sure that I would be gaining exposure to a whole new culture and dynamic. For this reason, I chose to go to Singapore, and it ended up being an accurate decision.
Capture the moments, dedicate time to know people's background, try new food with someone else, know how and when to say no, meet the local people, and there will always be setbacks. Organize the logistics of your study abroad experience far in advance. Course enrolling is one of the most energy- and time-consuming activities I've ever done."