“During the summer of 2024, I had the wonderful opportunity of participating in “Between France and Morocco: Inclusivity and Diversity in the Francophone World”, a study abroad course offered by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. My peers and I spent three weeks traveling through parts of France and Morocco and were able to experience the vibrancy and connectedness of the Francophone world first-hand. Through a series of lectures, I was able to foster a deeper understanding of the impact that slavery, colonialism, and immigration had in shaping France and its former colonies, specifically Morocco," reflects Oumy Camara, a biomedical science major in the College of Medicine and Morrill Scholar.
"The highlight of this study abroad experience was undoubtedly visiting countless historical sites in both countries and reflecting on those experiences with my peers. Outside of this, my free time was spent hiking in the south of France, enjoying tea in true Moroccan fashion, or going on impromptu adventures in whichever city we were in. In just a few weeks, I was exposed to so many different people, cultures, and languages, allowing this to be a truly transformational experience. My time in France and Morocco not only allowed me to see the world through a different lens, but it taught me the immense value in experiencing unfamiliar people and places.”
Camara is also serving as president of the Western Sahel Student Association (WSSA), a student club she helped found on campus.