“Going abroad, I feel like I finally understand the word 'enriched'. Not what it means but how it feels,” reflected Selena Stanley, a psychology major who recently returned from the DIS – Summer in Scandinavia program.
Students on this experience split time between two European capitals: Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, and Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, taking a variety of courses that suit their interests.
“Once I began my time abroad, I was able to meet a multitude of students across the U.S. and live in Denmark and Sweden, taking classes on criminal behavior, applied psychotherapy and theory of emerging adulthood as well as briefly stay in Spain and do a field study trip in Switzerland,” said Stanley. “Not only did I get to focus on some specific interests in the field, but I got to learn from like-minded individuals and passionate professors, conversations that I already miss dearly.”
For Stanley, her journey abroad began soon after she started at Ohio State. She took advantage of the numerous global education opportunities offered on campus. Stanley is also a member of the Global Business Living-Learning Community, which gives first-year business students the opportunity participate in a residence hall community built around the globalizing world of business.
“When I was offered to travel to Scandinavia to explore my passions, I knew this would not only refine my academics but show me a side of myself in which I've never seen. It would show a part of me that had to live on my own even further away, learn for myself and start new,” reflected Stanley. “Despite being scary, especially being one of the youngest students there, I knew being abroad would throw me far from my comfort zone, being instrumental to reaching a place I've never been before (geographically and metaphorically).”
Regardless of when students enter their programs, Buckeyes who study abroad return with skills that aid them in the classroom, as members of society and in their future careers.
“I had an introspective moment on the plane ride, realizing that coming back home, I did feel different. But not in the ‘new year, new me’ way but in the ‘I'm ready to take on anything thrown at me’ way. Moving forward in my career, I know all the moments I got to exist in had shaped me into a better person. This has further equipped to listen and understand a variety of people who carry different perspectives,” noted Stanley.
“Having the never-ending support and love of my family, friends and school - something not everyone has, is something so beautiful to come home to that I've taken for granted my whole life. I have felt the difference in how my heart has grown for so many new people and this whole experience can only be described as just a blessing.”