Exploring Ireland and Oxford
Rachel Sullivan, who graduated in 2020 with degrees in industrial-organizational psychology, religious studies and philosophy with a minor in mindfulness and contemplative living, traveled abroad and without her family for the first time during the spring of her sophomore year, when she participated in the Honors trip to Ireland.
The visit to Ireland inspired her to seek out another faculty-led trip, which led her to take a course with a travel component in Oxford the following spring. She also gained the confidence to go on her own trip across Southeast Europe.
Best part of Ireland and Oxford: Applying what she learned in the classroom to the real world.
“My favorite part of both trips was being able to connect with everything my classes were learning in a deeper way. Aside from being able to go into more detail through guided tours, it added such a human element to everything I was learning about. Studying abroad really helped bridge the gap between the intellectual or theoretical aspect of learning, and really have that knowledge be something personal and transformative.”
Biggest takeaway from Oxford: Look beneath the surface on a much deeper level.
“The human rights experiences through the trip really highlighted how we need to take an unflinching look at the failings, alongside the triumphs, of both past and current events if we’re going to move forward. The ability to think critically and look beneath the surface and take a balanced view with a bit of a broader perspective was an important part of my personal development, and it’s also something that I continue to apply and cultivate in my professional life.”
