Liberal Arts Majors: Criminology, Political Science
Other Major: Master of Public Policy
Hometown: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Experience Time: Fall 2022

Give us a brief summary of your experience?

I traveled to the island of Curaçao with my CRIM 451 class. Since this was a web course, I had not met anyone in my class prior to traveling. While touring many important sites and getting a sense of the rich history of the island, I was able to bond with my peers to an extent I did not think was possible and feel more connected not just to my class but to the world around me as well.

How did this experience impact you academically?

Though my primary major is Political Science with a large personal focus on domestic policy, I have always wanted to travel abroad to some extent during college. This class was a perfect way to stay on track with my accelerated graduation schedule while refusing to lose out on an unforgettable experience. Seeing the way another country's justice system worked has influenced the way I want to shape ours domestically.

How will this experience impact your career goals?

I believe that this experience will impact the way I strive to help people as someone in the policy field. I have always seen the importance of pulling solutions from suggestions from those in the community since they know their situation better than an outsider could, but I had previously underestimated the importance of seeing other models and case studies to build solutions off of as well.

How has the College of the Liberal Arts helped you to find and/or succeed in this experience (e.g., adviser, faculty, staff, enrichment funds, etc.)?

Thanks to funding from the College of Liberal Arts, a large portion of my travel costs were elevated, allowing me to focus on getting the most out of my classes rather than wondering how I could possibly fund them.

How has the Paterno Fellows Program had an impact on this experience?

The Paterno Fellows Program not only introduced me to this experience but also supported me both financially and academically throughout it.