Singapore: William Wang
Program: National University of Singapore Exchange, Spring
Major: Psychology
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My first two weeks settling in were the most memorable portion of the study abroad program. Meeting my local roommates, walking around the new campus environment, attending my first classes, and exploring the greater region of Singapore were all things to remember.
How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?
The multidisciplinary experiences I had both in Singapore and back in the United States have taught me about the culture, the people, the school communities, the laws, and the norms that shape different societies. These experiences have enabled me to become more culturally sensitive in my future career in psychology, while also helping me grow into a more knowledgeable global citizen after graduation, wherever the next step may take me.
These experiences have enabled me to become more culturally sensitive in my future career in psychology, while also helping me grow into a more knowledgeable global citizen after graduation, wherever the next step may take me.
How did your identities impact your experience? What advice would you give to students with similar identities who are considering a similar experience?
As an Asian American, I was able to use both English and Chinese to good effect throughout Singapore, as the two languages are spoken most frequently there. I was able to use English to converse with the broader and younger generations of Singaporeans, and Chinese in older and more traditional areas of the country as well.
What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?
I learned that being (or at least being able to act) confident enough to strike up a conversation with anyone at virtually any time can lead to many novel experiences that might not have happened otherwise. The most memorable experiences I accumulated throughout the study abroad program came from spontaneous conversations with friends and strangers alike!
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
Academics were similar in that conversations were conducted in English, and students at both NUS and UW–Madison were able to pose intriguing questions using critical thinking and vast creativity. The programs differed in their emphasis on their respective countries, such as the Mental Health in Singapore class at NUS, as well as psychology classes at UW–Madison focusing more on the U.S. population.