Brooke Pociask '26 never considered studying abroad, but sometimes the unexpected happens, and you decide the only move left is to... jump. 
 
Pociask's aunt didn't have children, but she doted on Pociask and her brother as if they were her own. That's probably why Pociask's bond felt stronger than the average niece-aunt relationship. And that's certainly why the hurt was so unbearable. Last November, Pociask's aunt was killed in a car accident.
 
"There was just this sadness in my family. I needed to do something to escape it. I felt like I had to step out of my comfort zone. I always wanted to travel, but I figured I would wait until after college. But when the accident happened, it was a reminder of how quickly life can change or be taken away."
 
Pociask competes on Siena's swimming and diving team. The season spans both semesters, which makes travel abroad during the fall, winter, and spring virtually impossible. But this January, Pociask made summer plans overseas.
 
"I just had this epiphany that I need to do it. Greece has always been a bucket list destination. I reached out to the study abroad office with a ton of questions, and Abi Cavazos (director of study abroad and international student services) had answers for every one of them. She was an amazing resource."
 
Pociask spent four weeks in Greece, first in Athens and then almost everywhere else. Pociask is a health science major, but opted into a political science class because:
 
"If I'm being honest... I looked at the syllabus and discovered it was a travel course. I wanted to see as much of Greece as I could."
 
They traveled to Mykonos, Crete, Delos, and Delphi, and in each city, they explored its history through a political and an economics lens. That's not in Pociask's usual wheelhouse, but she's grateful for the education. 
 
"I want to be a physical therapist and I'm applying to graduate programs now. Taking this class, I really think there's a lot I can take from it that fits with what I want to do. For my final paper, I compared the American healthcare system to the one in Greece. That perspective is really valuable."
 
Of course, the four-week semester wasn't all history lessons and papers. There was cliff jumping into the Mediterranean Sea, shopping in Crete, and one unforgettable midnight dance party on the roof of a ferry boat. She misses her aunt every day, but she's grateful for the nudge to try something bold. Life can change on a dime.