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STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM - STUDENT EXPERIENCES
Erica Harvey How did you select your study abroad location? Narrowing down my study abroad location to London was rather easy because I went in with certain guidelines. I knew I wanted a location that was in an English speaking country even though most of the study abroad programs at least offer English speaking professors. I also wanted to be in a city that I thought was historically and politically interesting. Finally, I wanted a location in Western Europe that would allow me to travel to other culturally diverse countries quickly and easily while abroad. I kept all these in mind, but ultimately chose the London Internship Program because it allowed me to work and live like a Londoner instead of being a student on a foreign university campus. Why did you want to study abroad? I was looking for adventure and a new prospective on life. I wanted to take advantage of being able to see the world and foreign places through my own eyes with the added bonus of being able to do it for a low cost. The program that I chose was King's affiliated, so I was able to go at King's normal tuition price. What was the highlight of your experience? While I was in London , I interned for a British Member of Parliament. Things that I experienced everyday like looking at Big Ben from the office window, or attending committee in Westminster Palace made my internship a highlight. I never expected to spend time in the British government, especially when I was in college. Saying it was a once in a lifetime experience seems like an understatement. Another highlight definitely was my weekend travels. On $1000 I made day trips to place in England like Oxford , Cambridge , Dover , Windsor , and Canterbury , and weekend trips to Ireland , Belgium , Paris , Edinburgh , Florence , Venice , Rome , and Berlin . Everywhere I visited offered a new culture, new sites to behold, and new memories to cherish. What surprised you the most? I gained a new perspective on life by studying abroad. As an American I thought I knew all that there was to know about the US's position in the world and how the world perceived us, but I learned through speaking with people from other countries that the reality was that I only saw the US from a citizen's perspective. I think discovering that the world is bigger than being here is an insight I never really saw coming. Traveling is not only entertaining it is a unique educational experience. How has this experience affected your major and future career? Studying abroad solidified my education and career aspirations. As a History and Political Science major at King's, I always had a fascination with historical places including museums. I took full advantage of being in London , a city of over 200 museums, when I studied abroad. When I returned from abroad, I was sure that I wanted to be in museum work. This August I will be attending the Cooperstown Graduate Program for Museum Studies. My ultimate aspiration is to work at a major museum in London upon completing my graduate studies. What would you tell students considering studying abroad? GO FOR IT! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I understand the worries that come with studying abroad. I had never been away from home for more than a few days, never ridden on a subway let alone a plane. I believe that students feel that they will miss out by leaving King's for a semester, but there are plenty of options that are summer programs, and there is no harm in leaving for three months. While I was abroad, modern technology allowed me to speak regularly with my professors, family, and friends so you won't miss a thing. Now is the right time to take advantage of being abroad. You are young, you have plenty of options to finance your travels, and the King's study abroad program is basically handing you a ticket to the world. Read Erica's article that was published in " Transitions Abroad " to learn more about her experience |
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