Biography
How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?
Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to take an array of unique classes for my unit of study only offered at my abroad university. I was incredibly fortunate to study environmental biology in a country that is a trailblazing force in biological sciences and conservation and a university that is a pioneer for ecological research. Through studying abroad at the University of Sydney, I was able to expand my global network of other students taking similar coursework and biologists, professors, and researchers in my field. I was also able to challenge myself to take courses at a university with a significantly different grading scale than Tulane, which prepares me for future graduate school coursework.
How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?
Studying abroad allowed me to pursue different habitats in a unique and unfamiliar setting, which pushed my comfort zone and brought self growth in return. Those hobbies including tackling challenging hikes in unfamiliar terrain, learning how to independently organize travel, discovering a newfound love for cooking and finding healthy recipes to make on my own, and gaining newfound confidence in my ability to live on my own and navigate a new city through walking and public transportation.
Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?
I would recommend Sydney to every student considering studying abroad and I would choose it again and again. Sydney is incredibly safe, clean, easy to navigate, and it has the most friendly, happy people. There is such an amazing work-life balance and such a healthy, active mindset and I genuinely felt like I was the happiest I have ever been living and studying in a new city. Sydney’s location is perfect for traveling to and exploring other parts of Australia and other countries in Oceania and Southeast Asia, which is an incredible opportunity that should not be overlooked.
What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?
One part of studying in Australia to prepare for is navigating the time difference between Sydney and back home in the Unites States (+16 hours). I would definitely make a plan with friends and loved ones before you leave about working around the time change. It definitely requires active communication on both ends and might take some trial and error when you arrive in Australia, but overall it was easier to navigate than I had previously thought! Definitely be sure to complete all the necessary paperwork and forms in a timely manner to insure that everything is cleared and ready to go before you leave!
Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?
Living and navigating a new city as a woman was certainly something I worried about before leaving for abroad. I was sure to always be aware of my surroundings and tried to avoid walking by myself at night. However, I always felt very safe in Sydney surrounded by extremely friendly and kind people.
Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.
I was incredibly fortunate to live in an apartment with girls from the United States and from countries all over the world. My immediate roommate was from Vienna, Austria, and some of my other flatmates were from Germany and South Korea. Some of my favorite memories from studying abroad were the times that we had roommate dinners or friends over at our apartment and we would share stories and experiences from our home countries. This experience allowed me to make close friendships with girls from all over the world and gain a global perspective I did not have before.
