England: Maya Dettwiler

Program: UW Global Launch in London

Maya’s Majors: African-American Studies, Psychology

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

My program academics were vastly different from taking classes at UW-Madison. While abroad, the mission was to use the city as our classroom. Most of my classes abroad involved excursions to art museums, theater shows, markets, and other London boroughs. Having an untraditional class structure helped me thrive in my academics, be engaged with my professor and classmates, and helped me learn about the city I was living in.

How did your identities impact your experience? What advice would you give to students with similar identities who are considering a similar experience?

As a Black first-generation college student, at times I felt alone in my experience as I was the only Black student on my program. At times it made me feel discouraged and homesick. Though I faced these difficulties on my program, it made me more solidified in my identity. My advice to students who share similar identities with me, I would say to not let the isolation consume you. You can find community in a lot of unlikely places, but also by staying in touch with those at home when you’re feeling alone.

What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?

While on my program, I learned how to be comfortable being alone and how to enjoy my own company. As a freshman in college, you’re more likely to constantly stick around the people you know and are friends with. This was definitely the case for me during my fall semester abroad. When the spring semester came around, I challenged myself to explore the city alone and do things I wanted to do or see by myself. This pushed me out of my comfort zone tremendously but it helped me gain independence and build a relationship with myself. I learned that it’s completely fine to do things alone and to find joy in it.