Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello,
My name is Sarah Mamelak and I am entering my third year, in the Concurrent Education program majoring in Health Studies. I am writing this petition as I would like to be able to take five courses while studying abroad in Barcelona in the Winter of 2025.

Studying abroad in Barcelona presents a unique opportunity that I believe will enhance my educational studies and shape my career as a health educator. As a future teacher, I am very interested in the opportunity to immerse myself in a different educational system, where I can gain valuable insights into innovative teaching methods that I can bring back to Canada. I will get the chance to engage with peers from various cultural backgrounds, enhancing my ability to connect with and support a wide range of students. Understanding different cultural perspectives and learning styles will make me a more adaptable and empathetic teacher and will also ensure that I can meet the needs of all my students, especially those who may be new to Canada and face linguistic or cultural barriers.

Taking courses at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where I intend to study, will provide a unique learning environment. For example, a course on business relations and marketing will be taught from the point of view of that country as will a course on healthcare practices.

Studying abroad will also enhance my personal growth. Living in a country I have never visited before will challenge me to step outside of my comfort zone, develop problem-solving skills, and become more independent. The ability to communicate ideas effectively across language barriers is very important in today’s globalized society, especially for teachers who work with students whose first language may not be English. I have worked at a summer camp in the United States, where I had the privilege of meeting people from all over the world, including all around Europe, Scotland, Australia and the United States. This has made me aware of the benefits of interacting with people from different cultures and I am eager to expand on these experiences by studying and immersing myself in Barcelona’s culture.

As a Health Studies major, studying in Barcelona will allow me to see first hand how different social and cultural environments impact and influence health care. For example, Spain is known to have one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Like Canada, it is free for all its citizens and is paid for through taxes. It would be very interesting to see and learn how this healthcare system operates and compare it with our Canadian system. By understanding the similarities and differences, I will be better prepared to speak about universal healthcare and advocate for inclusive practices in both healthcare systems and education. Barcelona, with its rich history and lively culture is the perfect setting for this educational adventure.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to consider my petition. I am confident that this opportunity will have a positive impact on both my academic career and personal growth.

Sincerely,
Sarah Mamelak