"During my time abroad, I experienced an expansion in my independence, self-assurance, and personal development."
Hi! I’m Claire, and I’m a Senior (CC’24) studying Political Science. In the Fall of 2022, I had the opportunity to study at Queen Mary University of London as part of the Columbia in London program.
It was amusing that my friends had spent so much time thinking about who I’d be when I went to London. I applied to Columbia in London almost on a whim because I had been a student of the coordinating English professor, Edward Mendelson, and wanted a program that wasn’t purely focused on language. It ended up being the best decision of my university career.
During my time abroad, I experienced an expansion in my independence, self-assurance, and personal development. Outside of the Columbia environment—and my academic comfort zone—I was able to redefine my identity as a student. I took
Outside of school, I was eager to explore the city’s museums, theaters, parks, and pubs. Those experiences were made even better because I was able to share them with new friends. So while I didn’t pick up any British traits like my friends predicted (maybe besides gaining a strong affinity for the song “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis), I still left my time abroad with new memories and confidence.