“This was the perfect fit for me for my semester abroad,” says junior Marissa Guajardo
March 2025 – Drew University student Marissa Guajardo C’26 is getting a well-rounded and immersive study abroad experience in Spain this semester.
Guajardo—a double major in Spanish and international relations, minor in economics, and member of the women’s volleyball team—is studying in IES Abroad’s Barcelona program focused on political science and international relations.
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“Drew’s Center for Global Education was such a critical part of my study abroad experience,” she said. “Their fall Global Education Fair really got the ball rolling on my interests. Afterwards, I spent a lot of time with them researching specific program criteria to find the program right for me, and they were with me every step of the way.”
Now in the program, it has turned out to be the perfect fit.
Three of Guajardo’s five classes are fully in Spanish at la Universitat de Barcelona and other institutions.
In addition to her studies, Guajardo is also interning for a sustainability-focused fashion company, assisting in their publications and communications efforts. The internship is providing plenty of practical experience in both Spanish and economics.
“My internship has helped me gain a better understanding of businesses, economics, and sustainability, which are all part of my international relations and economics studies,” she said.
After Drew, Guajardo plans on pursuing a graduate degree. She now has her time in European higher education institutions to consider.
“I believe the genuine connections I have made with the city of Barcelona have been the most beneficial, both personally and academically, for my post-graduation plans,” she said. “I will bring this experience and its lessons with me post-study abroad and even post-Drew. Living in Spain has been a privilege on its own, but being able to extend my education into Europe and learn from the people here who have experienced it has created an opportunity unlike any other.”
