In a previous post, we highlighted the school holiday adventures of three of our scholars, and now we’re excited to share new stories of their enriching experiences abroad.
These opportunities, offered by Fundação St. Paul’s, allow our pupils to develop academic and soft skills and immerse themselves in new environments.
This time, we focus on Julia, Rafaela, and Leticia, who explored their interests in Business, Medicine, and Design.
Julia’s Sport Business Studies in Madrid
Julia spent her time in Madrid, studying Sport Business at the Real Madrid Universidad Europea. She was thrilled to explore her interest in Business within a unique and dynamic setting. Her course schedule included morning classes, while the afternoons were reserved for exploring the vibrant city of Madrid. Julia had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, including students from Turkey, Switzerland, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, which added a global perspective to her experience.
One of the standout activities in her course was a group project where her team was tasked with choosing a Champions League football club and creating a business model to increase its income and profitability. Julia found the project challenging at first, but she and her group grew closer, ultimately earning the best presentation award at the end of the course.
Julia also mentioned lectures on topics such as tourism marketing and entertainment. She even got to tour Real Madrid’s training center, where she learned about stadium management, club sponsorships, and sports as part of the entertainment industry.
Her explorations included memorable trips to galleries and museums, with the town of Segovia being a particular favourite, known for its Roman Empire monuments and Gothic cathedrals.
Rafaela’s Medical School Intensive at Johns Hopkins University
Rafaela’s holidays were spent in Maryland, USA, at Johns Hopkins University, where she participated in a Medical School Intensive Programme. This rigorous course provided her with hands-on experience, simulating real-life situations in hospitals. She learned essential medical skills such as operating blood work, suturing wounds, and intubating patients. For Rafaela, this was an immersive experience that offered her invaluable insights and skills she wouldn’t have had the chance to learn elsewhere.
The course was pivotal in helping Rafaela decide on her future career path. She says: “this two-week course allowed me to get a taste for what university life will look like if I choose to study at Johns Hopkins University”. She praised the professors for their attentiveness and care, which made the experience even more rewarding.
Beyond the classroom, Rafaela enjoyed exploring Baltimore, trying new foods, and connecting with peers who shared similar goals. She also had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC, see the White House, and even attend a baseball game.
Leticia’s Interior Design Course in New York
Leticia’s holidays marked her first experience abroad, and she spent it in the School of Visual Arts New York studying Interior Design. Like Rafaela, Leticia lived on campus, which gave her a taste of university life and independence. She learned a great deal about responsibility and the nuances of sharing a living space with others peers.
During the three-week course, Leticia participated in practical lessons using platforms like Photoshop and Rhinoceros 3D. She also attended theory classes that introduced her to new perspectives on analysing a city’s architecture, with New York City as her case study. In her free time, Leticia explored iconic sites such as Central Park, Times Square, and the Empire State Building, and immersed herself in the city’s cultural diversity by visiting neighborhoods like Little Italy and Chinatown.
A highlight for Leticia was the final review, where she reflected on everything she had learned and created during the course. She felt proud of the skills she acquired, including time management and public speaking, as well as the patience and resilience she developed.
These incredible opportunities are only made possible by the generosity of our donors and supporters. We are deeply grateful for their contributions, which allow our scholars to embark on such transformative experiences. Thank you for helping our pupils grow, learn, and achieve their dreams!