David McGrath, Catholic '25, is a Conway School of Nursing student from Pawling, NY. He chose to study abroad in Melbourne, Australia.

Why did you want to study abroad?

"I wanted to study abroad so that I could travel to a different place while still actively keeping up with my studies. I believe that this experience allowed me to see places that I would probably otherwise not have seen and I was able to do this all while staying on track with my nursing classes."

What was your favorite experience while studying abroad?

"One of my favorite experiences while being abroad in Australia was scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef. This is something that I had always wanted to do and I was so glad that I could make this dream of mine come true. Seeing all of the marine life, including sea turtles, sharks, fish, and the reef itself, was such an amazing experience. I put me in awe how up close I could really get to all these great creatures."

How were you able to immerse yourself in the culture of the country you studied in?

"I was able to immerse myself in the culture of the country that I studied in through the classes that I took there. One of the classes was all about Indigenous Health and Culture in Australia. In this class, I learned about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are native to the Australian land. We dove deep into conversation about how these Indigenous people have overcome many hardships and how they still struggle to gain the respect and dignity that is their right within the healthcare system. This class taught me the history of Australia through these peoples and how they are going to shape their future through self-determination."

What did you learn about nursing abroad?

"Nursing abroad is not much different from here, other than the cultural differences. Schooling for nurses is only three years in Australia compared to the four that we go through in the United States.

Understanding the culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a large part of Nursing in Australia so understanding that is such a large portion of understanding how to be a competent nurse in Australia."

How were you able to balance your travels with your academics?

"I was able to balance my travels with my academics by knowing timelines for all of my assignments and doing my work in increments so that I would complete it before I went on any excursions. This was a large part of my time in Australia since there was so much to see, as well as so much work to balance."

What advice do you have for future students?

"My advice for future students is to go and see as much as you possibly can because there are so many great places in the world to see! The work that you do is also important so managing that as soon as you arrive is something that should be a top priority. Embrace the culture and all of the opportunities that are offered to you. Know when to say no to things but also don't be afraid to do things that you wouldn't normally do."