Like many OU students, William Prueitt spent last semester studying abroad. What makes his story unique is that he didn’t return.
As a pre-med finance student in his fifth year of study, Prueitt chose to study at La Universidad de Viña del Mar in Chile to advance his Spanish skills and take the time to refine his ideas about a future career path.
To immerse himself fully, Prueitt took a break from his major courses and studied Latin American history, literature and culture in his time at La Universidad.
The Chilean family that housed Prueitt treated him like family and even took him to their son’s initiation ceremony for the Chilean Navy’s equivalent of the Navy SEALs.
Prueitt also taught English at a local public middle school during the fall semester.
After a semester of courses at La Universidad, Prueitt decided to make the most of his time in South America and take time to travel the region.
This scenario is not uncommon, but there aren’t exact statistics regarding students who stay abroad after a semester since the students are no longer affiliated with OU when they elect to stay, Education Abroad Director Jack Hobson said.
Prueitt cited many reasons for his decision to take a semester off. He said he wanted to improve his Spanish, see historical sites he hadn’t previously known about, compare the cultures of different countries, volunteer and generally take advantage of his freedom in a foreign land.
“I thought staying to travel would be a great chance to learn more about the world and my place in it,” Prueitt said.
After the semester ended, Prueitt began traveling on his own. He began his trek in Brazil and later traveled across Argentina with his family after meeting them in Buenos Aires.
William and his brother Matt, a freshman at OU, then continued on to Tierra del Fuego.
Next he traveled to Punta Arenas, Chile, where William was trapped for a week due to a strike that shut down all transportation. He spent much of his time near the protests and was even interviewed by CNN Chile for a piece about tourists’ reactions to the strike.
Finally, William camped and hitchhiked across more of Argentina and Chile, including the Chilean Lake District.
After more than two months of traveling, William was invited back into the home of his host family. His next travel destination is Argentina, where he plans to visit Cordoba and Iguazu Falls.
“I’ve made friends everywhere I’ve gone,” William said. “It’s been incredible to meet and spend so much time with people from across the world.”
William’s plans for his semester away from his studies are to spend most of his time volunteering. First he will work with Pastoral da Crianca in Brazil, which promotes the education of underprivileged children. He also will work with an organization which brings medical help to those in need. William said he hopes to travel with the medical organization into the Amazon to help native people.
Not surprisingly, William’s parents didn’t welcome the idea of a semester off and a delayed graduation from OU. However, after explaining he had the requisite money to pay for his travels, they supported the plan.
“This experience has pushed back my graduation, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” William said.
William has the full support of his sister Caroline, who is an accounting senior at OU. William’s experience in South America has been an opportunity for reflection and self-discovery, Caroline said.
“William once told me that ‘everything that you do throughout your entire life will be a learning experience. Your life is your education,’” Caroline said.
William plans to return to the United States in April to attend the weddings of some friends.
And he said yes, he will continue his studies at OU in the fall.
“Traveling after the study abroad experience has given me a much better perspective on ... the freedom that we can have if we only reach for it,” William said.
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ghorton 1 year, 3 months ago
Wonderful article! I enjoyed reading it and seeing what an excellent journalist my cousin has become.
HJ