"Being in another country taught me so much about my own independence, how I learn, and provided me with valuable hands-on experience in the field of study."
From the moment I committed to Columbia University, I knew I wanted to study abroad during my time here. I was amazed at all of the places that Columbia offered in partnership. However, I had always only considered a semester-long program. One day, while sitting in a dining hall with friends, they brought up the possibility of studying abroad over the summer. The more I looked into Columbia's summer abroad programs, the more I fell in love with the idea. It was the perfect way for me to study abroad without the stress of major and minor requirements, to continue my love for learning over the summer, and to fulfill a core course.
I had previously only thought a semester study abroad to be possible, due to my full financial scholarship and inability to cover summer tuition costs. However, because of the GLS, I was able to attend my dream summer study abroad, and I loved my experience! Studying abroad was a life-changing experience that I would recommend to anyone interested. Being in another country taught me so much about my own independence, how I learn, and provided me with valuable hands-on experience in the field of study.
I was able to try local cuisine and see a vast amount of such a beautiful country, and it enriched my love for traveling in a way I could have never imagined. During my study abroad, I met the most amazing group of friends. We stayed up doing assignments together, and also were able to travel to nearby Greek islands for overnight trips during our off days. This trip most definitely brought me some long-time friends and an unforgettable experience. For example, on one of the last days of the trip, the class visited the Panhellenic Stadium in Athens, and later that night my friends and I attended an authentic Greek cooking class where we learned how to make the most amazing dishes! Before this course, I had no experience in classics. However, I think after completing the course I can consider myself an honorary classicist! Being at the archeological sites and museums of eras we discussed in lecture created a strong connection with the history and antiquity I was learning about. Overall, the summer course in Athens was a fantastic, life-changing experience, and I could not be more grateful for the GLS for allowing me to fulfill a dream of mine and pursue academic success.
