Why Study Abroad Anyway?
I have always been of the opinion that it is necessary to physically experience a place before claiming to fully understand it. That is why I think taking advantage of an opportunity to study abroad is essential to the pursuit of a well-rounded and complete education. Of course, studying abroad isn’t only about the studying either; it’s also about becoming a more competent global citizen through exposure to new places and cultures. That is why I chose this trip as my first study abroad experience; to achieve both academic and personal goals.
Academically, I am interested in supplementing my study of a topic I touched on in high school: the creation and implementation of international human rights law and how it has changed the legal landscape at an international and national level. An important aspect of this study will be understanding the rise of Nazism in Germany and how the world has responded to prevent atrocities like the Holocaust from happening again. While the rise of Nazism is not a specific interest of mine per se, the international human rights law that resulted from it is, and to fully understand how that body of law came about, it is necessary to not only understand it’s history but the also the geography and cultures of the countries that experienced that history. This trip will give me a personal picture of the places that go along with the history I’ve only ever read about in books, which I believe is necessary to form a more complete understanding of the subject.
My personal goals for the trip are to fulfill my longtime dreams of travelling across Europe, specifically to the origins of my ancestors, Germany and France, and visiting Amsterdam to see the work of Van Gogh, my favorite artist. I love to travel and hope to see as much of the world as possible during my life, so I am especially excited that this trip gives me the opportunity to visit so many European cities at once and to become more connected with my heritage and interests.
Studying abroad can be a daunting prospect. Even if you’re used to travelling like me, the thought of throwing yourself into a new country and culture at the same time you’re tackling coursework can be overwhelming. Personally, I’m most worried about time management. I hope I will have enough time to adequately explore and interact with the many cities I am going to visit while still keeping up with rigorous classwork. I’ve been told that this trip is no vacation and that there will not be too much time for relaxation, but I hope I do have the chance to step away from my studies and fully enjoy my time getting to know some new places. Regardless of how much free time I may or may not have, I know in the end I will gain some invaluable experiences and see things I wouldn’t normally have been able to see at this stage in my life. I am very excited to take my first trip to Europe and experience first-hand the depth of history and culture these countries offer. And now there’s only a few days left to wait!
