"By the end of my five weeks, I even had the confidence to explore Paris on my own, putting myself out there, speaking my (very bad) French, and embracing the experience."
Prior to leaving for Paris, I remember how strange it felt to say, “Hey, I’m going to Paris.” It was my first time ever leaving the country, and Paris had always seemed like something unachievable. It was the city I had dreamed of seeing since I was a little girl—mostly, I have to admit, because I saw it in movies: the picturesque cobblestone streets, the visually curated, delectable-looking pastries, and of course, the Eiffel Tower glowing golden in the night. I imagined myself there when I got older, wearing black heels and looking insanely cool and mysterious. That little childlike fantasy stuck with me through high school. When it came time to choose a language to study, I picked French—not just because of that dream, but also because I thought the French language sounded beautiful. Those were actually my two main reasons for learning it.
Luckily, by the time I got to college, I had learned a lot more about Paris, and my reasons for going were no longer just about pretty streets, looking pretty, and speaking a pretty language. I wanted to challenge myself—to immerse myself in a culture I had never been a part of, where I would be considered a foreigner, an outsider. As someone who has made friends with many international students, I felt it was important to understand what it’s like to be that outsider, to push myself out of my comfort zone in a meaningful way. In high school, I gained a strong foundation in French, but it often felt more focused on learning about the language than actively using it. It wasn’t until I arrived at Columbia and began the French I and II track that the language started to come alive and feel truly real to me. After finishing French I in my first semester, I knew I wanted to fully challenge myself, not just to fulfill those childhood dreams of leaving the country, but also to grow my independence, expand my worldview, and experience something truly new and transformative. Now that I’m back from five weeks abroad, I can safely say that I’ve accomplished all of these goals. If it weren’t for the Global Learning Scholarship, I never would have had this opportunity—and for that, I am infinitely grateful.
I would even say that my experience abroad exceeded my expectations, especially in terms of learning. One of my classes focused on 19th-century French art, and the other on migration, specifically in the French and North African context. These are both classes I wish every young person in America could take. They opened my eyes to the fact that other countries, like France, also struggle with issues such as racism and immigration, problems often viewed as uniquely American simply because national conversations around them are so recent and loud. The art history course introduced me not only to the essential artists who have shaped France and the world but also to the ways art reflects broader social and political dynamics. I began to understand how art can serve as a powerful lens through which to examine history, power, and resistance, making the ability to analyze it not just aesthetically meaningful, but socially and politically vital. I came away with a more trained artistic eye and a deeper ability to describe and interpret artwork—skills I hadn’t had before.
The classes were just the beginning. Exploring and discovering Paris for the first time went far beyond my original vision of cobblestone streets and looking cool (though I did those things too). I was constantly in awe of the city’s beauty, not just in famous spots, but in every little corner. Because I had weekends off from class, I also had the chance to travel beyond Paris to places like Nantes, Rouen, and Mont-Saint-Michel. At times, it was hard to believe what I was seeing was even real. I will never forget the endless castles, breathtaking architecture, and incredible French cuisine, especially the Normandy oysters, along with the unforgettable moments I shared with the other students in the program and the French people I met along the way.
This trip helped me truly understand the meaning of the phrase, “Home is where the heart is.” The people you share a place with, the ones you learn from and laugh with—they become part of what makes that place meaningful. I ended up meeting two of my best friends through this program, and for that, I am also infinitely grateful. Paris itself was unforgettable, but it was the people who made the experience transformative—who helped me grow, challenged me, and showed me things I never expected to encounter. The most meaningful friendships not only show who you are, but leave a significant imprint on the person you are becoming.
On top of all these incredible experiences, I also grew a lot as a person. For the first time ever, I had to take full responsibility for myself. I was living completely alone in a foreign country, and although it was somewhat similar to living alone in New York for the first time this past year, it felt very different in many ways. In Paris, I had to manage my entire space—the bathroom, the food I was eating, keeping everything clean—not just a small single in John Jay. On top of this, a major challenge was adjusting to the cultural and language differences, which pushed me to become much more independent. By the end of my five weeks, I even had the confidence to explore Paris on my own, putting myself out there, speaking my (very bad) French, and embracing the experience. When it came to traveling outside the city, I even saved up enough to book my own train and hotel room for the first time!
Although these may seem like small things, they gave me a sense of independence I hadn’t known I was missing, and I didn’t realize how freeing it would feel to gain it. Now that I’m back in America with these new skills and experiences, I know it won’t be long before I find a way to return—dressed cool, walking those cobblestone streets, and not only learning about the world around me, but through that, continuing to learn more about myself. Thank you to the Global Learning Scholarship for changing my life forever.
