"Recognizing my mother tongue thousands of miles from home was unexpected and deeply meaningful. It reminded me why I am drawn to art history in the first place: objects can carry stories, identities, and connections that travel far beyond their original contexts."
I have dreamed about studying abroad for as long as I can remember. When my sister studied in China during her junior year of college, I felt inspired by her experience and imagined myself doing the same one day. As a nontraditional student, however, my priorities were often focused on improving my livelihood while continuing my education, and studying abroad felt financially out of reach. After my father passed away, much of my income went toward household and family expenses, making the possibility feel even more distant.
This year, I decided to pursue that dream. Receiving the Global Learning Scholarship made it possible for me to participate in a program in Greece that felt almost perfectly suited to who I am and what I hope to do. By covering my program tuition, the scholarship removed the largest financial barrier, allowing me to use my remaining resources to experience Athens fully.
The program brought together so many of the things I love: art, history, culture, storytelling, and the opportunity to see how objects can connect people across places and time. Through the Athens Curatorial Project, I visited museums and cultural sites, met professionals in the field, and had the chance to think like a curator while developing my own project. One of my most memorable moments was discovering a miniature rickshaw with a Bangla inscription in a private collection. Recognizing my mother tongue thousands of miles from home was unexpected and deeply meaningful. It reminded me why I am drawn to art history in the first place: objects can carry stories, identities, and connections that travel far beyond their original contexts. At the same time, the program gave me the freedom to experience Athens beyond the classroom, making learning feel less like something I was required to do and more like something I naturally wanted to do.
What made the experience especially meaningful was that learning did not stop when class ended. I learned how to swim in deep water, something I had never done before, while surrounded by people and a place that were both new to me. I watched movies outdoors under the Athenian sky and experienced a film screening at the Colosseum accompanied by a live performance of its soundtrack. These moments have become core memories, reminding me that learning can take many forms and be both intellectually enriching and genuinely joyful. I was learning history in museums and seminars, but I was also learning through the simple act of being present, curious, and willing to try something new.
Some of my favorite memories, however, happened in the spaces between our academic experiences. Living in the same apartment building as my classmates allowed us to build a strong community in a very short amount of time. We shared groceries, cooked together, spent time in each other’s rooms, and talked and laughed long into the night. I felt as though I lived a lifetime in just three weeks.
Athens changed my understanding of what I’m capable of. Despite it being my first time solo traveling, I found myself navigating new and unfamiliar experiences that initially intimidated me. I discovered that I could explore, learn, have fun, and find joy far from home. By the end of the three weeks, I began calling my residence “home” and felt deeply connected to the place and the people around me. I left with a greater sense of confidence and possibility, but most importantly, with a new understanding of my own capacity to take risks and grow. The Global Learning Scholarship did more than help me study abroad; it allowed me to pursue a dream I had carried for years and step into the deep end and discover that I could swim. I will forever be grateful for the chance to call Athens home, even if only for three weeks.
