Reporting Live from the UK by Anaise

Reporting Live from the UK by Anaise - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

As a university student, there are many opportunities to spread one’s wings and the list is endless, but, I believe, study abroad is one that should not be missed. Now, I do not say this as one who is working for the study abroad office or as some daydreamer. I say it as someone who is currently living the decision of studying abroad. That’s right. I am currently laying in a hotel room in Paris on break from studying in the United Kingdom and I have to say that study abroad is a decision all students should be required to do

In my time abroad, I have been exposed to more walks of life than I have ever been. My flat mates alone consist of: a German, a Frenchwoman, a Hungarian, a man from Hong Kong, another American exchange student and myself. When one decides to study abroad, they will experience culture on a level that surpasses anything they have known before. In America, students accept the melting pot for what it is and take for granted the world outside because it is often times forgotten. It is important for students to experience other cultures and ways of life besides their own. Tasting the foods, seeing the sights, and interacting with those around the globe makes one see the world in new perspective.

Academically, the teaching methods in the UK are more personal than what I am used to coming from a school where last year’s student population was 55,000 students. The emphasis for assignments is heavier on reading and less on PowerPoint slides. Here, it’s more of a challenge with only one essay and one exam to account for my grade. Although, I have learned that I prefer the American system, I had never had anything to contrast it to before studying abroad. Experiencing this difference in education has made me more comfortable with my idea of law school as the works I must read are, at times, challenging, but I find I am able to tackle them. I am appreciative of this new confidence that I can approach law school head-on, however, it isn’t as big as what I found most important throughout this journey.

One of the most impactful things that has happened to me while I have been abroad was learning about myself. I have grown as a person mentally and spiritually, I have learned to be more independent and to adapt comfortably into a change of environment. This experience has taught me how to be on my own, but also how to surround myself with people who also share a sense of adventure (even if that adventure is staying in for some breakfast for dinner). I have made some good acquaintances and I have learned more about myself in the last three months than I had in the last year and that is what I think solidifies the idea that all students should study abroad.

I would be lying if I said I did not have my spell of homesickness and wanted to go back, but it is merely part of the process of being away from friends, family, and home. If I had to make the decision again I would have still chosen to study abroad, if not for the adventure, for the simple fact that this has been one of the most self-awakening experiences I have had. I know that when I go back to the United States I will have a clearer head to steer me in the ambitious academic path I have set for myself and no student should pass up an opportunity that can transform their perspective on life such as this.