by Grace Batsie ’28 on September 24, 2026
Opinion
This past summer, I spent six weeks living and working in Buenos Aires, Argentina. And the entire experience was paid for by Providence College. How did I do it? The Fr. Philip A. Smith Fellowship.
Using the website’s own words, “The Smith Fellowships offer rising PC juniors and seniors fully funded opportunities to serve or study at Catholic and Dominican sites outside the continental United States.” During my experience, I spent six weeks living with a small group of Dominican sisters and worked as an English teacher at the local Catholic school they supported. Just this year, one fellow worked with newly released incarcerated people in Los Angeles, one worked at the U.N. in Geneva, Switzerland, and another one was with me in Buenos Aires!
We all went into the opportunity with different perspectives, majors, and backgrounds, but all received an amazing experience. Yet somehow, no one I’ve talked to on campus knows about the scholarship. The program is offered through the Office of Mission and Ministry and has been running for over 15 years. They have sent fellows all over the world.
Frankly, the program should be more competitive. People should be gunning for an opportunity to live abroad for six weeks and better themselves within the Dominican community. I am not near the most Catholic person at PC, but the trip wasn’t all about faith; it was about who we are as people and how we can grow through the experience. The sisters and I did pray together and go to Mass, but we also participated in community service, went on day trips to experience the culture, watched movies, and hung out. I went to work in the school during the day, but came home for lunch and ate dinner with the sisters in front of the TV at night. We talked about our families, our dreams, and our hobbies. Overall, we just got to know each other.
Who would pass this up? I understand that some people are scared to travel alone, but students do it all the time when going abroad for a whole semester. Other people are worried about taking on the task of working with your hosts ahead of time, but all the fear and work are so worth it! Everyone should apply, or at least discuss the opportunity.