Washington, DC: Global Gateway Summer 2026 (Reflections)

May 28, 2026

Program: UW Global Gateway in Washington, DC, Summer

Stacey C: Sustainable Practices

During my program in Washington DC, I gained greater appreciation for the role that sustainability plays in my everyday life. One of the most noticeable aspects was how easy it was to get around the city without relying on a car. Whether traveling on the Metro, walking to destinations, or exploring different neighborhoods, I saw how public transportation and walkable communities can reduce traffic, lower carbon emissions, and make the environment more eco-friendly. This experience encouraged me to think about ways that I can contribute to making my community more sustainable. Simple decisions like taking public transportation, walking, and biking are all effective and impactful choices that can positively help the ecosystem.

In addition to transportation, I became more aware of how communities can encourage environmentally responsible behavior among visitors and residents. While walking through different neighborhoods, I noticed stations that provided free waste bags for dog owners to pick up after their pets. This may seem like a simple feature, but it helps keep public spaces clean while encouraging residents to take responsibility for their environment. Seeing these stations makes me realize that sustainability is not always correlated to large-scale projects but rather small actions and community resources that make a meaningful difference. This observation influenced me to be more conscious of my own daily habits and look for ways to contribute to a cleaner and greener community.

A subway platform with two tracks running under a stone walkway. Across the walkway is a sign with black lettering on the left reading "Welcome to America's Metro System". The right has red, white and blur swirls. The ceiling is stone rectangle cutouts. — The Washington Metro

A blue sign on a green metal pole on the side of the road. The sign says "Picking up #2 makes you #1". Below is a blue dispenser with free dog waste bags in it. — The Washington Metro

When I return to Madison, I hope to apply the lessons I learned in Washington DC to my everyday life. Some habits that I plan to continue include using reusable products, reducing waste, and being more mindful of my consumption. I also want to share some of the sustainability practices that I observed during the program with my peers back at home. By discussing these experiences and encouraging conversations about environmental responsibility, I can help raise awareness of simple changes that can make a positive impact. Additionally, I hope to support and participate in campus-wide efforts that promote a cleaner and more environmentally friendly campus.

This program showed me that sustainability is not only about major technological innovations or government policies, but also the everyday choices people make and the systems that communities put in place to support these choices. The experiences in DC have inspired me to make more environmentally conscious decisions and encourage others to do the same, achieving a more sustainable future both on campus and beyond.

Catherine Q: An Impactful Moment

One thing that has stuck out about my experiences in Washington, D.C. is the public transportation system. As someone who comes from New York, I have had lots of experience getting around using trains and subway systems. So much so that I thought the D.C. Metro would seem completely foreign; however, it really felt like home. Through the entire Global Gateway Program, my classmates and I used the Metro for almost every outing we took together to go see museums, visit historical sites, tour government buildings, and explore different areas of the DMV. In fact, the use of the Metro was such an integral part of our daily lives, that it became one of the primary methods we utilized to travel through the city and experience life outside of just the classroom discussion.

Looking down an escalator with people in front standing on both sides. The escalator is going down on a subway platform where a train is blurry on the left and people are walking on both sides.

The biggest advantage that I saw in the ease at which you could travel from Washington, D.C., into Maryland or Virginia by utilizing the Metro was the accessibility of its use. All of the signs at each station were labeled clearly and once you got onto the train, navigating where you wanted to go was extremely easy, regardless of whether you were traveling alone or with a large group. Not only did this allow us to remain connected while we were attending the Global Gateway Program, but it gave me a sense of independence and familiarity as well.

Oluwaseun S: Career Connections

During the Global Gateway program, I developed a lot of skills that I know I will carry with me into my future. One of the biggest was communication. Since our class focused on political polarization, discussions were a huge part of our everyday experience. Whether we were talking with classmates, guest speakers, or even random people we met around D.C., I was constantly being pushed to share my thoughts and engage in conversations. I became much more comfortable speaking up and communicating with people from different backgrounds. As someone who hopes to become a lawyer, communication will be one of the most important skills I can have.

Another skill I further developed was empathy. Throughout the course, we talked a lot about how one piece of solving polarization is opening ourselves up to empathy. One thing that really stuck with me is that empathy is not about agreeing with everyone; it is about genuinely trying to understand where they are coming from. Listening to different perspectives throughout the program, I learned how important it is to see beyond my own experiences. In the future, this will help me as a lawyer because every client has their own story and understanding that story is just as important as understanding the facts of a case.

A group of students sitting on two couches in a circle. They are talking and pointing. One student on the left has a card held up on their forehead. — One of the many game nights we had throughout the program. Even outside of class, we spent time together, building friendships and creating memories that made the experience even more meaningful.

The most unexpected skill I gained was becoming comfortable with ambiguity. Before this program, I often looked for a clear answer to complicated issues. However, studying political polarization showed me that many problems do not have simple solutions. Learning to sit with uncertainty and consider multiple perspectives taught me to think more critically.

While these skills will definitely help me in my future career, I think they go far beyond that. Communication, empathy, and comfort with ambiguity are skills I will use every day for the rest of my life. Whether I am practicing law, having difficult conversations, or simply trying to better understand the people around me. These are lessons that will continue to shape who I am long after Global Gateway.