“Studying abroad in London showed me that when I get the courage to step out of my comfort zone, I am capable of accomplishing anything I set my mind to. Moving to a new country with people you’ve never met before for an extended period of time is an intimidating journey to embark on. I was so nervous during the weeks leading up to the beginning of the program, but I pushed myself to go regardless. I now have the confidence and excitement to travel anywhere and everywhere because I no longer have to fear those uncomfortable experiences–that’s how we learn and grow,” reflected English major Ellie Keehn on the Literature and Culture of London program.
“Before even starting my freshman year at Ohio State, I knew studying abroad was an experience I wanted to make sure I had. Along with this, though, after being raised in a small, rural town where everyone knew everyone, I learned how important it was to see what else the world has to offer. When we experience different cultures and ways of life, we better understand each other.”
Led by the Department of English and Ohio State Libraries, students develop an understanding of how mass-produced popular literature—text and images—both reflected and stoked Victorian concerns and met public demand for accessible entertainment.
“Being around so many people with similar interests and goals was really inspiring to me as someone who didn’t previously know many other English majors. This experience will help me as I move forward in my career because now I know I have a group of people to turn to when I have questions about classes or career goals, need to bounce ideas off of or have read my writing, or just when I need to rant about a book I’ve read. Also, as a writer, this program taught me so much about where writers find their inspiration and how they channel their own experiences into their work,” said Keehn.
The itinerary leverages London’s rich cultural history, atmospheric locations and archival spaces to guide students on an exploration of the mid-to-late nineteenth century when the popular press was growing and capturing the Victorian public’s imagination.
“I think the reason I was able to have all of these incredible experiences was because of the amount of freedom we were given. Yes, we went on tours and trips as a group and we met for class a few days a week, but outside of that, we were essentially on our own. We had the opportunity to dive head-first into new situations and places, and I think because of that, we were even more willing to do things we never would have thought we would do.”