Kendall O'Keefe's Spotlight
Kendall O'Keefe
(she/her/hers)
About Kendall
Kendall O'Keefe is a fourth-year student at Penn State University Park majoring in psychology and minoring in Women and Gender Studies. During the summer 2022 term, she studied abroad through our Ancient Gods, Modern Culture, and Psychology of Religious Belief program located in Athens, Greece.Â
Kendall now serves as one of our Education Abroad Peer Advisers! To connect with Kendall, please visit her peer adviser webpage!
Continue reading to learn more about why Kendall chose her program and the highlights of her experience abroad in her own words!
Kendall overlooking the city of Athens during a hike in late May 2022
Kendall on a weekend trip to Santorini, Greece
Photo Kendall captured of the Cliffsides in Corfu, Greece in May 2022
Photo Kendall captured of the streets of Mykonos, Greece in mid-June 2022
Photo Kendall captured of a sunset at the Temple of Poseidon in June 2022 during a lesson on her program
Kendall's Education Abroad Experience
"I chose my program based on the courses it offered and the goals of the program itself. As a psychology major, I wanted to choose a program that was focused primarily on psychological topics. I also enjoyed the length of time of the program as it was not a full semester, which was something I personally enjoyed. I was worried that studying abroad meant I would have to leave for months, but this program allowed me to explore a new country for a shorter amount of time than I was comfortable with.
I loved exploring various parts of the country that I wouldn't have if I were to travel alone. I also connected with the students I traveled with, the teachers who assisted us, and the locals who guided us. I grew not only as a student but as a person through my education abroad experience.
The most important lesson I took away from my time abroad was to always say, 'Yes!' I learned so much and explored many places that I never would have dreamed of, but I often found myself questioning if I should. Once I took that first leap, I was glad I did. Otherwise, I would've missed many opportunities to explore historic places and meet amazing people."