Throughout your time at Carleton, have you participated in any Off-Campus Studies Programs?
I participated in IFE’s Paris program in Fall of 2022 (Institute for Field Education – The Paris Field Study and Internship Program).

How did this program change you while at Carleton?
This program helped me come back to Carleton even more assured in the path of study I had chosen for myself. I was able to engage with future French classes on a deeper level, and I felt I was able to integrate content across various courses in a more meaningful way, as I had become accustomed to combining multiple areas of study during my time abroad. It helped me appreciate the variety of learning experiences available at Carleton, and I also gained a deeper appreciation for the unique learning environment Carleton cultivates.
As a Biology major with a French minor, do you think that your OCS experiences can connect to your studies?
This program allowed me to connect my academic interests because the program was entirely in French and in France, but the internship (12 weeks of an 18-week program), was given to me based on my interests. For me, I was matched with a community health organization providing support for individuals from sub-Saharan Africa living with or affected by HIV.

How did the internship component of your study abroad experience impact your post Carleton plans?
The internship helped confirm my interest in pursuing a career in medicine or in public health, and it helped me understand the importance of bringing a cross-cultural understanding and awareness to healthcare. I know in my future career that I want to emphasize working with communities that have reduced access to healthcare and may not understand the US healthcare system. It also inspired me to pursue a Carleton-funded fellowship in Senegal this past August.
I understand that you were recently named a finalist for The Forum on Education Abroad’s 2023 Award for Academic Achievement Abroad. Could you talk a bit about how you earned this honor and what it means for your future?
The program director of IFE encouraged me to apply. It was quite a short application; I had to write a 1-page statement talking about my internship and a 1-page statement about my project. I think there’s often a misconception that study abroad programs aren’t “real” academics, and I think this award will help validate the work that I did when applying for jobs and grad schools.

What advice would you give students to encourage them to study abroad? What benefits do you see to the experience?
I would encourage students to start thinking about what study abroad programs they’re interested in early on! I would also encourage students to consider programs outside of Carleton OCS; the study abroad office does a wonderful job of recommending programs. Finally, I would tell students not to compromise: there are programs that allow you to explore a new place while still continuing your studies.