Global Ambassador Shares Study Abroad Experiences from First-Gen Perspective

Becoming the first member of a family to attain higher education is an outstanding accomplishment in itself, but the achievements didn’t stop there for Noemy Lopez-Martinez: The first-generation senior continued to defy expectations by studying in an unfamiliar country across the globe.  

In May 2024, Lopez-Martinez embarked on a faculty-led program in Seoul, South Korea, focusing on exercise and sport for health, fitness and performance to inform her sports management major. While there, she also participated in the UT Global Ambassador Program, in which students contribute blog posts and other digital content about their experiences studying abroad.   

“Where I come from, it’s rare to want to pursue higher education, much less attend the best public university in Texas,” wrote Lopez-Martinez in her application essay for the May Term program. “I’m one to go against my odds, and being able to study in Korea would be another accomplishment for me.”  

A program coordinator in Education Abroad at Texas Global and fellow first-gen study abroad veteran, Briana Arenas recognized the maturity and perspective that was evident in Lopez-Martinez’s application essay.  

“As resilient and responsible as a first-generation student can be, Noemy has demonstrated herself to be an exceptional student — one who recognizes that her classroom is not bound by four walls and a chalkboard, but rather a world ready for her to explore,” wrote Arenas. “[Noemy understands] the type of global citizen she can be and applies that knowledge to her studies and her personal and professional goals.” 

Transcending Boundaries 

Home to a rich culture, vibrant metropolitan cities and picturesque countrysides, South Korea became Lopez-Martinez’s first major international destination. Beforehand, she had always enjoyed exploring new places, despite having only traveled within the United States and to nearby Mexico for family visits.   

From the beginning, though, study abroad didn’t seem out of the question for her, especially as she recognized its significance in light of being a first-generation student.  

“It's a huge deal to even be in college, right?” Lopez-Martinez said. “But to be able to study in another country, I feel that’s an even bigger deal.”  

Family Matters 

Lopez-Martinez recalled pondering her college decisions as a high school student, when she explored options outside Texas but eventually decided on The University of Texas at Austin. She knew that enrolling at UT, besides easing financial constraints, would allow her to lean into her leadership role in the family while benefiting from the close support system in her household.  

“I feel I’ve always kind of been the leader or the guinea pig, figuring things out and kind of just making a path for my siblings and my family,” Lopez-Martinez said. 

Later, as she considered applying to the study abroad program, she again kept her family’s importance at the forefront. Lopez-Martinez reasoned that the experience could present new avenues not only for herself but also, eventually, her siblings. And she could give them guidance on the process if they ever needed it. 

“This also opened up opportunities for my siblings; they saw that I could do it, and if they want to, they can, as well,” Lopez-Martinez said. 

Defying Doubt, Choosing Change 

Lopez-Martinez attributed her final study abroad decision to a student speaker who had participated in the same faculty-led program. The student’s story — about the transformative experience of studying in a country she wouldn’t have otherwise visited — resonated with Lopez-Martinez. It was especially impactful in helping her envision a broader field of options, since she had initially considered only countries in Europe. 

“I applied right away after the meeting was over, thinking, ‘The worst that can happen is I get denied, and I just don't go.’ But then I went on a limb, and I got accepted,” Lopez-Martinez recalled. 

While her family was overwhelmingly supportive, they were initially shocked by her choice of location. They asked, “Why South Korea?” Admittedly, Lopez-Martinez wasn’t familiar with Korean culture and didn’t consume Korean music or television. But this wasn't a deterrent; rather, she saw it as an opportunity to immerse herself in a completely new culture.  

“I believe that being able to understand a new culture is beneficial to my growth because it enhances my intercultural competence, a highly valued skill in today’s globalized world,” Lopez-Martinez wrote in her application essay. “It is important to be able to comprehend other cultures in order to understand people of different backgrounds.” 

As the departure day approached, despite her excitement, Lopez-Martinez admitted to being plagued with fear and anxiety. She would soon be facing a new culture and language while completely isolated from friends and family.  

“I'm just not going to go,” she said, recalling her thoughts the day before leaving. “I'm going to miss my family. I'm going to miss my boyfriend and my siblings. I'm going to be away from them for a whole month.” 

Though her bags were packed, she still seriously second-guessed her decision. However, she ultimately decided to take on the new adventure — and now is thankful that she pushed past her fears.  

Immersing Herself in Korea 

For Lopez-Martinez, South Korea offered both wonderful experiences and challenges to maneuver. She encountered trouble in navigating a new public transportation system and language but soon eased into her new environment while exploring the city with her fellow students.  

“We were struggling. We didn't know how to use the public transport,” Lopez-Martinez said. “But after a while, it just became second nature to us, to [the point] where even if it was in another language, we were able to figure it out.”  

Lopez-Martinez noted the differences that stood out to her, from the citizens’ collective respect for designated non/smoking areas to the quiet nature of the country’s public transport system. 

Her program also helped immerse her further, with a mix of in-class days and excursions around the country. Her schedule ranged from attending kinesiology courses one day to exploring the Demilitarized Zone during another.  

Her most memorable foray, Lopez-Martinez said, was hiking the Seoul City Wall Trail during one of these excursions. The group bonded during the eight-hour hike as they shared feelings of exhaustion and pain.  

“I'm not going to forget that experience,” Lopez-Martinez said. “We were all bonding about how tired we were, how we couldn't keep going, but we finished.” 

Sharing Stories as a Global Ambassador 

While exploring the country and concepts in class, Lopez-Martinez also participated in the Global Ambassador Program. The program allows UT students to share their study abroad experiences through content creation in the form of Instagram takeovers, blog posts, photo essays or vlogs for Texas Global. 

“I enjoy creating content, and being a Global Ambassador gave me a platform to share a day in my life with an audience of UT students.” Lopez-Martinez said. “I also believe that studying abroad is a great opportunity, and this also allowed me to share that with others.”  

Stephanie Bishop oversees the program as Texas Global’s senior administrative associate in Education Abroad. She added her thoughts about the importance of the program. 

“So many of our students tell us that they were inspired to study abroad by reading about the experiences of their peers on the Education Abroad blog and social media,” Bishop said. “The Global Ambassador program is a fantastic avenue for students, not only to document their life-changing experiences abroad and keep their families updated on their adventures, but also to educate fellow Longhorns on the opportunities available to them and what student life abroad is really like.” 

Reflection and Inspiration 

After her trip in South Korea came to a close, Lopez-Martinez reflected on her time abroad. 

“It's a life-changing experience,” she said. “[When] I came back, I felt I knew a little a little bit more about myself, just because I was by myself, without my family, for a whole month.” 

While Lopez-Martinez recommends the study abroad experience for anyone, she especially emphasizes its value for first-generation students like herself. She also urges students to capitalize on the funding resources and financial aid available to help make studying abroad affordable for everyone. 

“It's an opportunity that not a lot of people have,” Lopez-Martinez said, extrapolating from her own situation. “Your parents didn't have that opportunity, or even other people in your family. So for them to see that you’re doing this, it’s like sometimes their dreams live through you. And I feel like, if you have those opportunities, take them! Don't take them for granted.” 

Studying abroad presented not only an educational opportunity for Lopez-Martinez, but also a way to inspire her younger siblings to see the world and access the kinds of global learning experiences that she enjoyed.  

Now, newly equipped with a greater cultural fluency and the particular confidence that comes from exploring unfamiliar lands, Noemy Lopez-Martinez looks forward to seeing and doing even more in the world.