Follow on Project Report as a Gilman Scholar

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.