Many students bring something back from their study abroad trips, but few can say they left something meaningful behind.

But when art major Munera Kaakouch participated in the France: University of Tours Francois-Rabelais exchange program, she entered a painting into a competition honoring playwright Honoré de Balzac. Kaakouch won, and her painting still hangs in the international relations office at the University of Tours.

Kaakouch is minoring in biology and wants a career in medicine, so she based her exchange program around working as a lab assistant at the University of Tours.

"It was pretty cool, being able to work on a team to design new healthcare products that we may be consuming in the future," she says. "I've wanted to be a doctor since I started high school. People would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and the answer was always doctor. I used to base all my art around the human body, human figures and anatomy. I just have a love for it."

Kaakouch says her fellow students are often surprised when they find out she is studying both art and biology. "It's hard to balance both, but it's definitely doable," she says. Part of her interest in coming to Wayne State University was the study abroad program, so she was excited to find a program that allowed her to combine her interests with her desire to travel.

"Everything is different," says Kaakouch. "The way cities are laid out, the way people speak, down to even the way people shop. So, it was definitely a 'fish out of water' experience at first, but I had help along the way when I needed it. My professors and advisors were all super helpful anytime I didn't understand something or had questions."

Following the completion of her semester-long program, she backpacked through 15 countries. "I went from France all the way up to the Netherlands, and from there I just kind of went back down and tried to hit as many countries as I could.

"My favorite country by far was Croatia. It is absolutely beautiful. I actually extended my stay in Croatia twice. I stayed in most countries for two to three days max, but I stayed for a week-and-a-half there. I tried to hit every major city; I would recommend it to everyone."

Kaakouch is planning to post-graduate studies in Europe, hoping to study at Cambridge University in England. In the meantime, she's looking for more opportunities to study abroad.

"Going to Europe the way I did really gave me a simulation of what life as an adult is like," she says. "You're really relying on yourself. It taught me how to be independent, and to stand on my own two feet, and trust myself. And that's really the goal of college in general right? To be able to find yourself and how to operate independently.

"If you're even considering studying abroad, do it. Find the time while you have it. Do not miss your chance to see the world, become independent, and open up your mind. You may think you know a lot, but you don't know anything until you see the world."

Registration for the France: University of Tours Francois-Rabelais program is open through March 15. Learn more online.

By Jacob Stocking, OIP communications associate.

The Office of International Programs leads Wayne State's global engagement by creating opportunities that foster international education and research, facilitate the exchange of individuals and ideas that promote global competencies and citizenship, and provide resources that support the expansion of the university's global agenda. Follow us @WayneOIP