University of Wisconsin–Madison

USA: Ivy Ceballos (Our Global Classroom)

My Classroom at the Heart of D.C.

The Supreme Court, a marble building with a triangular roof and pillars.
A picture of the Supreme Court, taken from the corner right beside the United Methodist Building, where my classes are.

Studying in Washington D.C. has been an experience unlike any other, and my classroom couldn’t be more different from what I’m used to at UW. Our classes are held in the historic United Methodist Building, right across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Capitol Building. It feels surreal walking past these iconic landmarks on my way to class, constantly reminded of how closely they’re tied to the topics we’re learning. There’s something powerful about studying U.S. policy and foreign relations just steps away from where decisions that shape the country are made.

The white, domed Capitol Building is illuminated by pink and purple clouds from the sunset.
A picture of the Capitol Building, taken while I was waiting to go through security for an evening showing of the National Symphony Orchestra, which was taking place on the Capitol’s lawn.

The classroom environment itself is both rigorous and inspiring. Our professors bring incredible expertise, but what really makes the experience stand out is the guest speakers they invite. Recently, we’ve had discussions on U.S. foreign policy, the inner workings of Congress, and workforce development, with experts like Alexis Ludwig, a Senior Foreign Service Officer who specializes in U.S. relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, and Ambassador John E. Lange, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Botswana and now works in global health diplomacy. Each guest adds a fresh perspective that keeps our classes dynamic and engaging.

But the learning doesn’t stop when we leave the classroom. In D.C., the entire city becomes part of the educational experience. Every day brings a new opportunity to understand governance in action. Whether I’m walking around the Capitol grounds or catching snippets of debates on the steps of the Supreme Court, it feels like there’s always something to learn. It’s an experience I never could have imagined back home in Madison.

The white, obelisk Washington Monument in the distance, behind white and red flowers, illuminated by a pink and yellow sunset.
A picture taken from the Capitol Building grounds of the Washington Monument, which is only across the street from the United Methodist Building, where my classes take place.

 

Ivy takes a selfie in a white room with a dark brown door.

Ivanna (Ivy) Ceballos

Major: Political Science, Legal Studies

Hometown: Romeoville, Illinois

Program: Wisconsin in Washington, DC Internship Program

Being a recipient of the Global Gateway Fellowship grants me the opportunity to be a part of a study abroad experience that I previously thought was unobtainable for me. Being granted the opportunity to not only allows me to go and experience our nation’s capital firsthand but also to be able to share those experiences and be supported by the Study Abroad department. Being able to inform other students with similar backgrounds to me of the opportunities they can have studying abroad seems like an amazing project that I can get behind.

I hope to gain a better understanding of what facet of law I am particularly interested in. Additionally, I want to successfully network and create strong connections while in D.C. I am mostly excited about being in D.C. during a presidential election year. It feels exciting knowing I’ll be surrounded by so many historic buildings while also actively being a part of a historic event.