Program and Location:
Spring, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Major/Minor:
Civil Engineering Major and French Minor
Why did you choose to study abroad?
I chose to study abroad for the experience of really living in another country. I realized that this was an opportunity that might not ever come back to me after graduation, so I decided to take a step of faith and go for it. I have traveled a decent amount, but seeing the world in the eyes of someone living abroad was so much more intriguing to me than being a tourist.
How did you pick your program?
I picked Manchester because I have always had a big interest in the culture of the UK. I am a huge soccer fan and that is a big part of their culture so it was really a no brainer ok that end. I am also quite interested in the difference in architecture that the UK has in comparison to the US.
What was something you learned about yourself? How are you different? How are you the same? Or, what did you realize about your own culture by living in another one?
I learned so much about myself and life in general from studying abroad. I learned how to truly live on my own and the importance of community wherever you are. I had to be much more intentional about going out and making friends and meeting people, so it was very important to me who I surrounded myself with. I also learned that the world is so much bigger than we think! There are so many beautiful places that we haven’t seen and immersing myself in those cultures really made me change my perspective. Overall, I can say I am much more mature and independent than I was before. I also realized the difference in culture that we have in America compared to the UK. The way we eat, speak, and even think is a lot more different than I thought!
What advice would you give to another student?
My advice would be to study abroad!! It is such a great way to learn more about the world and yourself while still getting a great education. Enjoying life as a student in a different country will leave you with lessons that you could never learn if you stayed in the bubble of the United States. Assuming you are going to study abroad, I advise you to say yes to everything!! (As long as it aligns with your morals), take the opportunity to do things you haven’t done before and really make the most of the time that you have abroad.
How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?
This experience made me much more flexible with different groups of people whether for work or in my personal life. I have also learned a lot about the civil engineering field in the UK, so I am equipped to work out there as well. Most importantly, I made sure to network in order to have plenty of connections whether within my field or not!!
How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?
The classes were not too different from the ones at NC State. The main difference was the amount of information that we had to learn in each class. There was much more content in my classes in Manchester than the classes that I have taken in the past at state. I did not do anything outside of the traditional classroom setting, so besides the content it was pretty much the same.
How did you connect with locals and/or meet local friends?
I just did my best to go to events and be as outgoing as possible! Most of my friends I met were from church because it was a place I knew I would find my type of people! I also made a lot of friends in my housing. A big difference I found between housing in the US compared to the UK is that the community in the housing groups in the UK are much closer and are more like a big family. Just be friendly and most importantly be yourself, and the right people will come to you!
How did you budget for your time abroad? Are there scholarships or grants that you would recommend applying for? Did you spend more or less than you thought?
Budgeting for studying abroad is very important. I wish I made a better plan before I arrived to be honest. Depending on where you go, the city could be much more expensive than the US, and since you are visiting, just make sure you budget in how much you want to spend on souvenirs and memories. There are also plenty of scholarships available to apply to. I recommend applying for the social media scholarship, and all the other ones that apply to you. I definitely spent way more than I thought I would, so keep that in mind.
Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?
I highly suggest you join a club or group that identifies with you. There are all kinds of people out there with similar backgrounds to you that will be very excited to meet you. It also gave me a sense of home away from home by being around people that looked like me.
Would you do it again?
I would most definitely do it again if I could. It was genuinely the best semester I’ve had in college, and I am so glad that I did it. I will most definitely be visiting my friends there soon!
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