Studying abroad is exactly as is
described by the plethora of people that have had the opportunity to engage in
such an opportunity as a once in a lifetime experience. Going to India through
the International Studies Abroad program proved an excellent choice because of
the numerous cultural excursions we were able to take and the guidance of our
very knowledgeable resident director who helped to make the most out of our
experience. Within India we embarked on the Golden Triangle excursion which
took us to the Pink City of Jaipur, the Taj Mahal in Agra, and the industrial
capitol in New Delhi. We also traveled through smaller villages and towns before
arriving at our University and place of study in Hyderabad, southern India. A few
of the study abroad students including myself traveled to Goa which is on the
west coast of India near Bombay. In addition to traveling around in India, I
and three other study abroad students participated in volunteer work with a
local NGO managed by one of the faculty members of the University. We acted as
English teachers for migrant workers’ children going twice a week to teach
material inclusive of the alphabet, numbers, colors, and simple sentences.
These children cherished our time with them because not only are they not guaranteed
the opportunity for a stable education, English is something they view as the
language of opportunity. By investing time in them, buying them supplies, and
teaching them English, we were able to give them hope amidst their dire
circumstances. We continued to raise money for the make shift school and to
help pay for the local teachers that taught these children ages 18 months to 10
years old.
Upon my return to the University of
Miami, it was my mission to reach other underrepresented students in study
abroad and enlighten them about such opportunities, especially to those
students that previously thought such opportunities and in locations such as
India, were not possible. I was able to go about promoting the ideals of the
Gilman scholarship program through several means that lasted the entire
duration of my senior year. First I worked closely with the study abroad office
on my campus as a resource to answer various students’ questions about studying
abroad during the office hours they held throughout the semester. I acted as a
student liaison during campus wide events and study abroad fairs, I
participated in many activities and workshops hosted by the study abroad office
as one of the selective student ambassadors to studying abroad for my fellow
peers. I gave presentations to scholarship recipients and financial aid students
in various concentrations with a majority studying pre-med or pre-health.
Because I kept a blog diary of my time in India, inclusive of pictures, I was
able to showcase my experience in a visual manner in addition to talking about
it. I made myself available for questions and advice by giving out my email
address and link to my blog for these fellow students to gain a preliminary
grasp of what I experienced in India. Whenever the study abroad office had a
student interested in India they immediately referred them to me as a guiding
resource. Through my volunteer work in India on children’s education and
literacy, I was able to reach out to sister members within my sorority about
the needs and opportunities available as well as use the hours in India towards
the philanthropy requirement for members. Finally, with the advice of the study
abroad office, I was propelled to take my follow on project to another level as
there was a need to promote my experience.
Part two of my project targeted administration to implement a program in
India through my home University which had previously witnessed no such program
and offered little aid. Upon speaking
with the Senior Vice Provost about my interest in India, my journey to study
abroad there with help from the Gilman, as well as what I learned and
experienced there, the Senior Vice Provost communicated that he would be working
on a program in India and was due to visit some schools and host universities
the following break. He also appreciated my experience and opportunity to
promote the Gilman as it had allowed me to go on an excursion I would not
otherwise have been able to go on. The Senior Vice Provost alongside study
abroad office personnel are now working on
formulating a sustainable study abroad program in India through the
University of Miami due in part to my diligence on following up and speaking on
behalf of other students who wish to go to India but are unable to.
The opportunities and experiences that I
had in India were only made possible via the Gilman scholarship. It has
instilled within me a desire to travel to other countries especially in a
service related aspect because I believe by truly serving the community I am
able to gain a greater understanding of the culture and build stronger
relationships with the local people. This experience only added to my
leadership and service skills amidst learning about a completely new culture
and environment. I believe my time in India will be valuable in my future
endeavors to work in healthcare because I wish to expand my career globally and
my work as a volunteer English teacher in India also lent valuable insight into
how I can be of service.
