YEARS YEARS

major, is on an exchange from Iowa State also at University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

She says it was challenging to ensure the classes she was taking would transfer over to her major at her home school.

Both Hesse and Jaerger want to make the most out of their experience while still balancing their studies. They set aside time each week to study in coffee shops and work on homework. They balance this by saving time to explore the new environment and learn about the culture.

Jaerger said the experience allowed her to learn outside of the classroom about different experiences, cultures and even herself. She has also met new people who she plans to stay friends with after the exchange.

“I also got to experience so many cool things that I’ve always wanted to do like swim with sharks, skydive, go on lots of hikes and just explore the islands,” Jaerger said about her exchange.

Hesse and Jaerger recommend this experience to other students looking to grow as a person or get out and explore. The advice that Hesse would give to someone hoping to do an exchange is to not be afraid to reach out and meet new people. She says she has met many kind people who are always willing to go do something new.

Jaerger recommends starting to plan an exchange early and thinking about what places will be the best for you. She also says to be open to new friendships and experiences.

The NSE program is still growing at SDSU, and Thompson hopes that in the future there will be an NSE ambassador program and a bigger presence on social media.