Kenneth Pilco
Kenneth Pilco (he/him) - Stanford in Santiago
Major: International Relations (BA)
College year while abroad: Spring 2025-26
About the photo: The Imaginary Ollie @ Torres Del Paine, Chile (Photo Creds: Maddie Allred)
Contact
Email: kpilco@stanford.edu or click here to schedule an appointment.
Q&As
Why did you choose to study in Santiago?
I chose to study in Santiago de Chile because I wanted to improve my Spanish speaking skills in a South American country. Considering how immediate and influential cultural creolization has been in Chile, I found that it would also be a great choice as it invited me to further question the intersectionality of the "Latino" identity, personally and generally. Additionally, I was fascinated by the natural beauty of Chile and had the opportunity to visit some of the most astounding sights of my life in the Atacama Desert, Torres Del Paine, and more.
How did studying away support your academic growth?
Studying abroad in Chile greatly supplemented my understanding of the region economically, environmentally, and geopolitically, given its history and present. I think that for me, physically engaging with this learnings allowed me to connect a lot of theoretical concepts with lived realities which was ultimately a really formative experience, both academically and personally.
What did you learn about yourself during your study away experience, especially through any challenges or major cultural adjustments?
The single most important takeaway from my experience was just how much I could and need to believe in myself. It's kinda corny, but I think really being on my own, first time abroad*, and recovering from an injury really taught me resilience and courage to some degree. It was a wonderful experience in adulting and traveling that instilled a sense of confidence.
Briefly describe a typical day and your favorite part of daily life in your program location.
My favorite part of daily life was the nature of being a busy-bee in a bustling city. At the time, I had interned with an NGO doing audio-visual content production for them, so everything from catching the metro to get to class, to rushing across Santa Lucía to get to the office, and even touring high schools around all of Santiago on behalf of my internship, I loved how every day forced me to listen for the quiet in all the loudness.
If applicable, how did participating in an internship, volunteership or experiential-based project help you grow professionally? What specific skills did you gain?
I worked with Good Neighbors Chile as a Communication and Content Strategy Intern. The work the organization did focused on building Social and Emotional Learning in students through programs such as Robotics, Filmmaking, and Financial Education. My role was to capture the workshops and programs they to build donor engagement through short-form content. I definitely got a better hold of how to read social media analytics, create a content strategy plans, and produce and edit video campaigns.
What was the most essential item you took with you on the program?
My digicam. Aside from not being the biggest phone picture fan, I think that bringing a portable device solely for the purpose of taking photos makes for capturing a lot more sincere, intentional, and meaningful memories.
What advice would you give students who are considering studying away?
Do it! Consider and focus about what calls you to pursue studying away, not about your fears. Once you decide to study abroad, I can assure you that most, if not all reservations you have, can be dealt with!