Barrett Study Abroad: London, Dublin & Edinburgh

The program was a six and a half week trip which spent the first block in London, then 10 days in Dublin and 12 days in Edinburgh. I had the rare opportunity to travel extensively when I was younger by way of two year-long trips. The first of which was a year spent backpacking Europe in place of 5th grade. In place of 7th my family and I took off in a 5th wheel trailer and spent a second year exploring the US.

I was eager to travel again, but wasn’t ready for the total commitment of a semester or year spent abroad. The nature of the summer program offered the perfect solution: A guided, accompanied study abroad experience that would re-introduce me to Europe but which also allowed enough flexibility that I could start to push my comfort zone and begin building the confidence and experience to travel on my own.

The trip was amazing. To this day I still keep in touch with many of the people I studied abroad with. Together we experienced something wonderful. Learning about the wonder, beauty, culture and history of Europe was incredible. While at the same time the trip offered the opportunity to grow immensely as individuals as our internal confidence, and perspective matured.

The trip brought history alive. There's something incredible and unique about having the opportunity to sit on Dover Beach while reading the famous poem, or to stand along the Cliffs of Moher with the sea mists and wind plastering your hair to your face. Even now, a number of years later I can still close my eyes and remember the live performance of Les Miserables and how it nurtured my love of the arts.