Hi! My name is Will (he/him), and I'm from Sandy, OR! I recently, walked at graduation in June, so my GEO program, Studio Art in Athens, is actually my last class at UO. During my time at UO, I was an English major and art minor. After UO, I plan on attending Western Oregon University to earn my Masters in Education to become a high school art teacher.
I picked Studio Art in Athens for my GEO program for so many reasons. I've always wanted to go to Greece (I've loved Greek mythology an art since I was young), I love mixed media and collaging (which is the primary focus of this course), and I've had two classes with our professor, Amanda, before and loved how she taught and talked about art. Basically, this GEO course is the class of my dreams! Of course, when I discovered this program and knew that I would need a few more studio art credits to round out my degree, I thought this would be a fun way to end my time at the UO.
At first, as someone who has depression and is queer and trans, I was a little worried about how my intersecting identities could affect my study abroad experience. However, since I've gotten more settled in Greece, met people, and had fun experiences, that fear has gone away.
Over the course of the first week, I only had one experience connected to my identities that was a little uncomfortable. As a trans person, my preferred name is different from my legal name. One time, when we were checking in for a hotel, my legal name was called out instead of my preferred name. I've gotten so used to being at UO and away from home and people using my preferred name. Initially, it was jarring both to hear that name and for people I was traveling with to associate me with such a personal part of my history. However, months before the study abroad program, my professor did reach out to me personally to warn me about the possibility of my legal name being disclosed; additionally, since that happened, our representative (without me even approaching her) took the initiative to announce my preferred name even when my legal name comes up. These really small initiatives from the people I've been traveling with have helped me thrive and adjust to life abroad so much, and I'm so grateful for that!
As of today, we just arrived on the island of Spetses after wrapping up our first week in Athens with a day trip to Delphi. The highlight so far creating a piece of art with and drinking the sacred spring water from the Temple of Apollo!
Will Noel, Diverse Ducks Ambassador