getting involved with international students on campus and doing virtual exchanges, where I met friends from Southeast Asia. I am also involved in the Franke Global Leadership Initiative, which is a four-year program focused on building culturally minded leaders who focus on pressing issues of the 21st century. I have been focusing on learning about social inequality and human rights issues. A requirement for the program is one semester of experiential learning. This is how I was able to do a study abroad program! I was fortunate enough to receive funding from the Franke family and The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship program to study abroad. While studying abroad in New Zealand, I not only focused on social inequality and human rights, but I also took personal time to expand my wildlife skills and explore nature. I explored New Zealand's north island with friends, new and old, and I took classes on Māori culture, intersectionalities and ethnicity.
Though a large portion of my study abroad experience was spent in lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic, I still had valuable experiences and learned a lot about New Zealand and Māori culture. I cannot wait to share more with you!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (I.I.E.). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
