Alyssa C. Claymiller
Major: Kinesiology and Exercise Science
School: School of Public Health
Year: Junior
Hometown: Kendallville, Indiana
IU Involvement
IU Office of Overseas Studies Spring 2017 Study Abroad to Wollongong, Australia; IU OVPDEI Summer 2016 Study Abroad Scholarship to Santiago, Dominican Republic; IU Pre-Optometry Club; IU 21st Century Scholars G.I.V.E. Back Program
Best Part of IU OVPDEI Study Abroad
"We went to a lot of places, and that’s what I liked about the program. A lot of students in study-abroad programs say they stayed in one city. We went to Santo Domingo, which is the capital, Santiago, the second-largest city in the country, and several smaller villages. We were mostly in the cities, but we would also take day trips to other places."
Best Memory while Studying Abroad
"One of the best memories I have from the trip was visiting a museum in Santiago. We learned that the Dominican society doesn’t always reflect on their African heritage, even though something like 90 percent of the population can trace their ancestry back to Africa. That was one moment that really stuck with me."
Study Abroad Advice for Future IU 21st Century Scholars
“The program just teaches you things in ways that you won’t understand until you experience it. Going there sparked a desire in me to study abroad more. A lot of people, when they heard I was going to the Dominican Republic, they just thought I would be going to the beach. But that’s not what the program was about. It was more about learning about the culture, which was my favorite part of the trip."
Future Plans after IU
"To attend IU School of Optometry for my O.D. degree, and to be an optometrist."