"There was a balance of academics and social time which allowed me to take the information learned in class and see it throughout the city."
Coming into college I knew that I wanted to study abroad at some point during my duration at Columbia. However, I was unsure how I could make this realistically happen with my financial situation and busy schedule as a STEM major. I was already worried about completing the requirements for the CORE curriculum and my major so it seemed that taking time away from my home campus would be infeasible.
Then, I was introduced to the Columbia Summer Core in Berlin: Art Humanities and Music Humanities program by a friend who did it the summer before. After some research it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take required classes in a city I had been dying to go back to. The program included many structured museum visits, concerts, and excursions throughout the city while allowing enough flexibility and independence for self-exploration.
The time that I spent in Berlin exceeded my expectations exponentially. There was a balance of academics and social time which allowed me to take the information learned in class and see it throughout the city. The city itself was absolutely incredible, especially the neighborhood where the program is located. There is an incredible mix of architecture, cuisine, art, and culture on every block. My friends and I were never bored with all the different museums, parks, and coffee shops. The worst part of the program was that it came to an end.
As a first generation low income (FLI) student, I would not have been able to have this experience without the Global Learning Scholarship. My time in Berlin not only taught me about art and music humanities, but of new perspectives, cultures, and a way of life outside of the United States.
