The U.S. encompasses people of many different racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds. Living and studying in California, you are a part of diverse communities, but what happens when you leave to go elsewhere that might not be so? You might find a community and sense of belonging here at home and would hope to find that same sense of comfort while abroad.
According to the Institute of International Education Open Doors Project, over a quarter of a million students from the U.S. studied abroad in another country during the 2018-19 school year. Of the more than 300,000 students who studied abroad, 31% identified as racial or ethnic minorities. Most students who have studied abroad describe the experience as both rewarding and challenging. For students who identify as racial or ethnic minorities, some of the rewards and challenges may be directly related to identity.
You have unique identity markers that will be interpreted differently wherever you go and a perspective that much of the time might not have been previously considered. That being said, know that you are never alone in your global program even in the case that you feel isolated while on your program due to your racial, ethnic, or national markers. You have the support of Global Engagement, your Program Coordinators, and your program providers.