Committed to Connecting Students with Study-Abroad Experiences

Derek Bamford ’25, Spain
Double Major: History and Secondary Education

Derek Bamford’s path toward studying abroad began while he was still in high school.  

Through a curriculum that included four years of Spanish classes, Bamford discovered a love of Spain’s language and culture — but one he could only explore from afar. So when it came time to choose a location for his Stonehill study-abroad program, Bamford knew he wanted to finally experience it all firsthand.

“There is something so appealing and rich about Spanish culture,” he said. “That’s why I chose to go to Spain. I wanted to immerse myself in those traditions and that culture.”

That dream inspired Bamford to choose Barcelona as his home base in Spain — one of the five Spanish cities in which Stonehill offers study-abroad options. Bamford studied at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in the historic Casa Convalescència building, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In addition to a Spanish-language course, Bamford took classes in Spanish politics and history, as well as Mediterranean culture, which he described as “a great opportunity to learn about subjects I wouldn’t be able to otherwise.”

However, the university lecture hall isn’t the only classroom where you could find Bamford while he was in Spain. As an aspiring high school history teacher, he volunteered at a local school, where he helped 11- and 12-year-old students further their English-language skills while he shared tidbits about American culture.

“The kids had really cute questions,” he said. “One thing they asked is, ‘Do you really ride big yellow buses to school?’ They all walk to school or take the metro, so they thought it was super cool that that’s how I got to school growing up.”

When reflecting on his study-abroad experience, there’s one unique souvenir Bamford particularly appreciates: a new insight into his future career path.

“Living in another country helped me realize that people are ultimately the same wherever you go,” he said. “When we’re learning about history, it’s important to remember that we all react to things in the same human way, regardless of when or where we live.”

Matthew Marano ’25, the Netherlands
Double Major: Economics and Finance

Matthew Marano set his sights on studying abroad long before he came to Stonehill.

“Even when I was in high school, I knew I wanted to study abroad when I went to college,” he said. “I thought it would be a really incredible opportunity to experience a culture very different from my own.”

That intention helped Marano choose the Netherlands as his study-abroad destination — a country where none of his Stonehill peers would be studying.

“I wanted to go somewhere that would be really outside of my comfort zone,” he said. “I had friends going to other countries in Europe, but I wanted to be on my own to make new friends and face challenges.”

Marano studied at Maastricht University in Maastricht, the Limburg province’s capital city. In most of his classes, he was the only American student.

“When you’re in another country, it’s easy to connect with the other study-abroad students because you have similar backgrounds,” he said. “This helped me learn more about where people come from and to understand different perspectives.”

At five months in duration, the Netherlands program is the longest one Stonehill offers. For Marano, this was another plus, as it provided ample time to explore other cities throughout the country. Other excursions included trips to France, Germany and Switzerland — with his official tally at 11 countries visited during his time abroad.

“Stonehill does a really great job preparing students to study abroad and making the process as smooth as possible,” he said. “I’m so appreciative that the college gave me an opportunity like this that many other people never get to have.”

He continued, “There were so many moments during my trip that made me say, ‘Wow, I’m just so thankful to be here right now.’”

Marissa Such ’25, Italy
Major: Biochemistry

Marissa Such didn’t think she would ever be able to study abroad, though she said she “always had the passion to go.”

Her dream destination? Italy.

“I come from a very big Italian family,” she said. “I always hoped to be able to go there.”

However, as a member of the Stonehill tennis team and a student in a premed track, Such has plenty of on-campus commitments she thought would preclude her from study-abroad opportunities.

Fortunately, fate intervened.

“An opportunity arose for me to go to Italy, and I said, ‘I’m going to take a leap of faith and do this,’” she recalls.

She continued, “I was nervous about the time commitment, but my coach [women’s tennis coach Lynne Smith] was so supportive about me going.”

Another priority for Such, who plans to pursue an M.D. and Ph.D. after Stonehill, was finding a way to stay connected with the medical field even while abroad. Fortuitously, Florence University of the Arts, where she studied, connected Such with just the type of clinical opportunities she desired.

That experience came from Such’s work with the Misericordia di Firenze, an Italian volunteer organization founded in the 13th century.

Through her work with the organization, Such participated in a range of social support services for local residents. These included assisting elderly patients with transportation to medical appointments, helping at a food bank and giving English-language tours to visitors of the organization’s art museum.

In addition, Such had the opportunity to provide in-home care to aging adults — an experience she particularly valued.

“I would compare the role to a visiting nurse in the U.S.,” she said. “I would do things like help them get dressed or assist them in moving around their living space. It was tailored to each person’s specific needs.”

“Before this, I didn’t have much hands-on experience with patients,” continued Such. “Seeing their gratitude for helping them with simple, everyday actions is something I really can’t describe.”

And there’s another way that Such said her study-abroad program would benefit her future career, in which she wants to specialize in rare disease research and treatment.

“This experience showed me a lot about the importance of culture,” she said. “Even if you can’t relate to someone by having a similar background or speaking the same language, at the end of the day, we’re all the same people. Understanding that will allow me to better help people in my future as a clinician.”