Texas Tech University

Student Spotlight: Jacob Howle

Jacob Howle

Name: Jacob Howle; Location: Seville, Spain; Program: TTU Center in Sevilla; Timeframe: January-May (2017); Major: Agricultural Communications; Classification: Junior; Hometown: Idalou, Texas

  • My Experience: Spain was the best time of my life. It allowed me to develop a global perspective and appreciate a culture entirely different from my own. I grew up in West Texas and had never known anything different, so while it was a shock, I know that I am a better global citizen because of it.
  • Why Go: I wanted to study abroad to experience a culture and place different from what I had known my entire life. Because of the scholarships available to me, I knew I couldn't pass up going for a whole semester and I would never do it differently as Seville really became like a home to me rather than a vacation.
  • Any Advice: Go for as long as you are able to. Two weeks and even a month can really just feel like a vacation where you aren't really able to become a part of the city and embrace the culture because by the time you have adjusted, it's time to leave.
  • Favorite Part: My study abroad experience taught me to appreciate cultures different than my own. Not to view any place as better or worse, but as different and worth discovering. It also showed me how to be an adult.
  • Looking Ahead: I grew up in the Lubbock area so even in school at Tech I am able to count on my parents if I truly need them. There in Spain across the ocean, I couldn't depend on them but had to learn to navigate situations myself and take responsibility.

CONTACT: Cindy Akers, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Programs, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or cindy.akers@ttu.edu

0216NM18 / Editor's Note: For detailed information on Davis College Study Abroad programs and how to apply, click here.