Chloe Jacobs, C’2027, a sophomore economics major from Los Angeles, had a transformative experience during her two-week study abroad trip to Santiago, Chile. During her journey, she said she learned a lot about herself, including how she navigates new environments and relates to others in unfamiliar cultural contexts.
Initially, Jacobs was struck by how her identity as a Black person in the United States influenced her assumptions about how she might be perceived abroad. In Chile, people were more interested in her nationality than her race, which forced her to reframe her sense of identity. Her experience in Chile caused her to consider how cultural identity operates differently depending on location. This new perspective allowed her to embrace adaptability and openness, which deepened her confidence in forming connections despite language or cultural barriers.
“By building adaptability and cross-cultural awareness, I plan to use this experience to lay the foundation for a career that not only amplifies diverse voices but also fosters a sense of community and connection in a globally interconnected world,” said Jacobs.
While in Santiago, Jacobs noticed many differences between Chile and the U.S., especially as it relates to social issues like race and class. In Chile, class identity often takes precedence over race, and historical factors like the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet shape the country’s political and cultural consciousness. 
She was surprised by how central the concept of memory and history is to Chilean society, especially compared to the U.S., where there is a tendency to whitewash history, she said. The phrase “un pueblo sin memoria es un pueblo sin futuro” (a place without memory is a place without a future) resonated deeply with her, highlighting Chile’s ongoing effort to confront its past. This was particularly evident when visiting memorials and learning about the experiences of marginalized groups like the Mapuche, the largest indigenous group in Chile. Jacobs hopes that the U.S. can learn a lesson or two from Chile about confronting its history rather than hiding from it.
"For me at least, spending time abroad is a necessity in my academic journey. My time in Chile allowed me to broaden my understanding of marginalization and deepen my conception of culture,” said Jacobs. “With aspirations of working in the entertainment industry, I hope to continue to challenge myself intellectually while learning how to tell stories that resonate across cultures.”
One of the most memorable moments from her time in Chile was a classroom activity in her ‘women empowerment’ course. The class shared what they admired about one another while passing around a ball of yarn. This simple exercise underscored the power of community and the importance of human connection, regardless of cultural differences. It symbolized the larger takeaway from her trip—the necessity of building bridges across cultures by practicing empathy and active listening. The experience reinforced the importance of approaching new experiences with humility and openness, allowing Chloe to learn much more from the people she met and the country she explored.