The Experience

Studying abroad in Sydney during the fall semester of my junior year was the best decision I ever made. I had the opportunity to travel all across Australia, scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef, and even go to New Zealand and Bali.

At the University of Sydney, I was exposed to a different style of academics way different than my home institution UT. I took three courses in American Foreign Policy, Critical Thinking, and GIS in Coastal Management.

My American Foreign Policy class gave me a different perspective into how other countries perceive the United States and our actions. As one of the few Americans taking the class, I was able to express my understanding of America and reshape my thinking to consider how our policies impact the other countries.

My Critical Thinking course was a philosophy credit that taught me the difference between a good and bad argument. I learned how to properly analyze statistics in relation to medicine, recognize fallacies, and break down argument papers to assess validity.

My GIS in Coastal Management class gave me my first introduction into ArcGIS. I was able to learn about environmental consequences of human encroachment on the natural enviornment and apply my skills to synthesize a report on pollution in Manly. It opened my eyes to how much pollution is around us that we don't even notice.

Overall, my time in Sydney taught me a lot about independence and how to adapt to new environments. The classes I took left me with new skills that will transfer to other aspects of my life and career, giving me new perspectives on the world around us.