Hello! My name is Gabbi Claxton (she/they), and my global theme focuses on inequality and human rights, complimenting my majors in Environmental Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies.

To be really transparent, my decision to study in Barcelona was disproportionately due to not wanting to endure another Montana-adjacent winter season, of course among other things, such as Spain and Catalunya’s rich history, social culture, governmental processes, and the opportunity for language immersion. This proved to be the right decision, as the education academically, culturally, and socially has been absolutely transformative for me, and I got to opt out of yet another winter. 

Spain is well known for their socially connected culture. This has been one of the most intriguing aspects of my time there. I believe that community and connection is a pillar of well-being often overlooked in the United States. In order to have a society of equity, sense of place, and overall mutual respect, it is crucial to understand the ways in which each individual is woven into the web of society. This is a way of being in the world that Spaniards embody. It has helped me to reject the ideas of hyperindividualism and further embrace and contribute to the creation of community in my life back in the United States. In a broader sense, I have a much more well-rounded, global perspective of functions of society and the ways in which citizens and government influence how people show up and feel supported (or lack of) in their communities. 

Barcelona’s location made it relatively accessible to travel around Europe, Catalunya, and Spain. My time spent travelling, which was as much as I was able, deepened my capacity to understand and appreciate diversity in lifestyle, culture, and perspective. Not only has that been so essential to a more nuanced viewpoint in regards to my academic pursuits, but also a more equitable and accepting way of showing up in my personal endeavors. Solo travelling opened me up to my own capacity for capability, autonomy, and independence. Travelling rejuvenated my creativity and fostered an expansive sense of adventure and self-relationship, and made me more confident in my ability to connect with others, regardless of background. 

As any abroad experience would, it did not come without adversity. Once my initial honeymoon phase had faded, I experienced a sense of loneliness and uncertainty. I had to take classes in a language I did not speak, the language barrier proved to be more socially difficult than I had thought, I felt isolated. I initially had an image in my head of how I should feel, and how I should be experiencing my time abroad, and I had felt like my little idealized bubble had popped. This isn’t being said to deter anyone from studying abroad, but it is a normal part of the experience. In hindsight, this hardship had been exactly what I needed. Overcoming these obstacles made me a more capable and resilient person. Navigating unpleasant situations skyrocketed my leadership skills, and, overall, these feelings were so short-lived in comparison to the amazing experiences and lessons learned in multiple aspects of my life. 

When I had initially gone abroad, my friends and I would always joke about the stereotypical “when I was abroad” student, and I was so convinced that it not only wouldn’t significantly change me but also I would be exempt from the stereotype (for whatever reason). Now, after being a few months returned, I can confidently say that I have changed, quite significantly. Truly, I could go on and on (and on and on and on) about the plethora of takeaways I have. I am more equipped to handle challenges, I have been able to show up more fully in many aspects of my life, and I feel just absolutely invigorated by the world around me. Beyond the Classroom provided me the space to grow in ways I didn’t even know I needed, and I could not recommend it more. 

Costa Brava, Catalunya- Kayaking with my little sibling, they came to visit me at the end of my trip 🙂