UA Little Rock Student Gains Global Perspective During Semester Abroad in Spain

A UA Little Rock student spent the spring semester immersed in Spanish culture, where she gained experiences and life skills that she says will help her in any future career path.

Sofia Villegas, a junior management major from Cabot and a member of the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program, studied at the University of Sevilla in Sevilla, Spain, during the spring 2025 semester, through International Studies Abroad. She took courses in international business, intercultural management, international marketing, and Spanish language.

“My favorite part was becoming a local,” Villegas said. “By the end of my time in Sevilla, my day flowed. I was no longer seen as a tourist but as someone who knew their way around. I even got to the point where I was complaining about tourists interrupting the peace.”

She grew to love the city’s rhythm, especially afternoons spent in Maria Luisa Park, her favorite spot to study or relax after class.

“Sevilla is a much larger city than Little Rock, yet when I was in the park I felt as if I was in the countryside,” she said. “Having that space and peace in the middle of a busy city was amazing and I loved it.”

Villegas said the experience taught her valuable lessons about adapting to new environments and navigating cultural differences. These are skills she believes will serve her well in her future career.

“In today’s world, no matter what career field you are in, adaptation is extremely important,” she said. “Being thrown into Sevilla, I was forced to learn how to adapt. My entire environment changed, and I was by myself. I had to learn to network and adapt to the environment I was in.”

Villegas enjoyed trying Spanish food and adopting Sevilla’s café culture, where she often studied and met friends. She also noticed cultural differences, like how staring isn’t considered rude in Spain, while smiling at strangers immediately marked her as a foreigner.

During her semester abroad, she traveled widely, visiting cities across Spain as well as Gibraltar, Portugal, Malta, and Morocco. Highlights included Granada’s historic sites, island-hopping off the coast of Portugal, and visiting nomadic Berber communities in Morocco.

Looking back, Villegas said the study abroad experience was transformative.

“I believe anybody with the ability to study abroad 100% should, and that I would 100% do it again if I could,” she said.