Studying abroad was an incredibly formative experience for me and is what sparked my interest in art history and museology, even leading me to add art history as an additional minor.
My biggest takeaway was learning how to talk about art and architecture with confidence, how to identify where and when works are from, understand their relevance, and engage critically with them. What surprised me most was how excited I was to go to class every day and how much I gained from each excursion. I originally only signed up for this summer abroad course to get travel experience but ended up looking forward to class days. Many of our classes took place in museums or through conversations with professionals in fields I’m now considering pursuing because of how inspirational this experience was.
I also arrived not knowing anyone at all, so building friendships through shared classes and excursions became one of my favorite parts of the program. I found myself participating more than I ever had before and speaking about art without feeling insecure, even though I was the youngest student and it was one of my first times presenting in college.
-Anisa Ruiz de Castilla, Art and Architecture in London