England: Taylor DuVarney

Program: UW Global Launch in London, Year

Taylor’s Major: Political Science

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

There are countless memorable experiences that I have had over the past year and it is so hard to narrow it down to just one experience. Overall, I would say that getting to know and become friends with everyone in my cohort has been the most impactful experience. As someone who thrives in large environments, I was nervous about my cohort being 10 people. In the end, however, we became very close. My cohort feels much more like a family than a group of friends. I am really excited to continue our friendships at home in Madison!

What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?

One challenge that I faced while studying abroad was finding my independence. Although settling in can be a challenge for every first-year student, being in a new country came with additional responsibilities. Because of this, however, I learned so much about myself and the ways I operate successfully. For example, I learned that making daily to-do lists and schedules would help me stay on track with school work and extra tasks outside of school. Additionally, it taught me to have a work-life balance between academics and fun in London. Coming back to campus, I feel much more prepared to be self-sufficient than I would have been if I just stayed in Madison.

What is the moment you are most proud of?

A moment I am most proud of is presenting at the Student Global Leadership Conference (SGLC) in the spring! My partner Jackie and I had worked for months to put our project together, and we presented in front of ~150 people! Our project was titled “Classroom to Corporate: The Development of Women From the University to the Workforce”, where we discussed the “broken rung” of women finishing university to entering the workforce.  Getting to share our passion for the topic with a global audience is something I will never forget. Additionally, the SGLC taught us so many lessons about creating global connections and I am so grateful for the opportunities to hear from people of such vast backgrounds.

How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?

I truly believe that my experience in London this past year has taught me so much about the opportunities I can pursue outside of the US. Since returning home, I have been increasingly interested in doing a masters program in the UK in my field of interest. Additionally, I have thought about different career paths I can have abroad, specifically in London. I am very interested in working in Formula 1, which is mainly based in the UK. Before going abroad, I would have never considered these paths as options. Now, I am looking beyond the opportunities at home and into more global opportunities.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

My advice to anyone considering the Global Launch program would be to just take the leap and do it. Although going abroad your first year does not necessarily feel “natural”, the benefits of the experience will last a lifetime. For me personally, London feels like a second home. I feel that we had amazing experiences and opportunities to dive into the London communities and make the city feel much more personal.