Abigail Hellums always wanted to be a teacher. As a young girl, she would come home from school and “teach” her little sister everything she had learned that day. 

Now as she pursues a major in secondary education with a concentration in biology, Hellums will also add to her teaching experiences with a trip to Italy next spring as part of the Global Gateway for Teachers program, a unique, award-winning opportunity for IU School of Education students that provides them with invaluable intercultural immersion experiences while also fulfilling their student teaching requirements.

Hellums chose Italy because of her minor in Italian - and thanks to a friend who is from Italy. Her friend encouraged her to study Italian and taught Hellums about the culture.

She also found encouragement to join Global Gateway, crediting friend Lilah Streiff for piquing her interest in the program.

“I think that School of Education students should participate in the Global Gateway for Teachers program! It’s a great way to meet new people, learn about different cultures, and reflect on your own culture,” Hellums said. “While I haven’t gone abroad yet, I have learned a lot about other cultures, and it prepares me not only for teaching abroad but for my own future classroom as well. There are also many scholarship opportunities for those who may worry about the financial aspects of the program.”

Hellums received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to help fund her student teaching experience in Italy next year. The Gilman Scholarship is a highly competitive national program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, administered by the Institute of International Education, that helps students with financial need pursue study and internship experiences abroad.

Through Global Gateway for Teachers, students receive support and guidance throughout the scholarship process, from identifying the opportunity to preparing a competitive application. Global Gateway works to make culturally immersive student teaching experiences accessible to students by connecting them with international opportunities and resources to help make those experiences possible.