"This experience has improved my skills and self-confidence, and I feel equipped to tackle challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the future with my new perspectives."
Studying abroad on the Columbia Summer Core in Berlin: Art Humanities and Music Humanities was one of the most extraordinary and enriching experiences of my life. The unique opportunity to spend six weeks in a new place, studying with my Columbia peers, and stepping out of my comfort zone had a profound impact on my personal and academic journeys. Receiving the Global Learning Scholarship allowed me to immerse myself in a new culture, broaden my worldview, and create memories I will cherish forever.
Berlin as a city was unlike any place I’d ever been. European culture wasn’t something I was the most familiar with, and while traveling to Germany seemed daunting at first, I was met with a warm and welcoming feeling upon my arrival. The excitement meshed with the discomfort of adapting to a new culture and environment, provided the foundation to challenge my values and improve the essential skills I would need to navigate the experience. For myself and most of my classmates, this was the first time traveling alone overseas for an extended period of time. As a result, being in the same boat brought all of us so much closer together, and I made lasting, irreplaceable friendships that I am so excited to develop further in the fall.
When the program came to an end, my friends and I were all so sad that we weren’t going to see each other again, then remembered that we, in fact, would in the fall. It made the bittersweetness of leaving such a magical place a little bit easier.
Traveling and studying abroad taught me to be more adaptable and self-reliant as I embraced the challenges that accompanied the experience. Learning a new language, navigating the city’s extensive public transportation, familiarizing myself with Berlin's rich history, and even daily tasks like grocery shopping or going to the bank all presented me with a degree of challenge that I was able to overcome and emerge stronger and more confident. My sense of accomplishment, self-confidence, and gratitude are stronger than ever before.
Daily life in Berlin was energetic, fun, and vibrant. The city has so much to offer, so much so that I’m counting down the days until I can go back. Six weeks was the perfect amount of time to have the urgency to see as much as I could in that time while also taking it at my own pace. Taking art and music humanities in conjunction with exploring Berlin fostered a strong appreciation for the sights and sounds that surrounded me every single day. The planned activities like museum visits or concerts balanced out the everyday architecture and nightlife that I was experiencing, providing a well rounded experience of Berlin’s cultural depth. Of the many engaging and memorable activities, some of the highlights more unique to my time there were watching the Euro 2024 games multiple times a week, enjoying the warm summer weather at parks and lakes, early morning coffees, late-night dancing, and everything in between. Having supportive and kind friends, always willing to tag along and make their trip as memorable as mine was becoming, made the experience so much better. The people I met along the way truly were the highlight of the journey.
My six weeks in Berlin have made a lasting impression and become a milestone in my life that I will look back on with joy and gratitude in the future. This experience has improved my skills and self-confidence, and I feel equipped to tackle challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the future with my new perspectives. I am deeply grateful for the Global Learning Scholarship that made this journey possible, the friends who uplifted and accompanied me during my time, and the irreplaceable memories I have made.
