DIS Blog
Student Blogger Digest
Why students study abroad, in their own words
What brings DIS students to study abroad?
They arrive in Sweden and Denmark at different stages of their academic and personal journeys, each with unique motivations and aspirations. Some are focused on exploring a career path, some want to experience a new cultural context, some are seeking to step outside of their comfort zone and develop their independence, and others set even more specific personal goals.
Read each blogger’s story below to learn why they chose to study abroad in Scandinavia.
To learn about her future career
Grace (she/her, University of Colorado Boulder) already knows that she plans to work in healthcare after she graduates, but she’s still working to figure out exactly what path she will take.
She landed on the Medical Practice and Policy program at DIS when she saw how it related to her career goals and allows her to learn directly from working physicians and healthcare professionals in the field.
“The unique learning experiences at DIS were a big part of my decision to study abroad. Before I left home, I can’t even tell you how many times I told my family and friends: ‘I’m going to Denmark to learn about their healthcare system and compare it to ours AND I’ll get to visit doctors in the hospital to learn from them.’”
To break out of his comfort zone and find what makes him happy
Robert (he/him, Cornell University) chose to study abroad during his senior year even though, as he puts it, “I’ve got a pretty comfortable thing going here,” at Cornell.
So why leave that for something new?
“This is a deliberate attempt to do something different at a time when I feel more comfortable and happy in the status quo than I ever have,” he writes.
“I want to spend the time and effort to understand what really makes me happy and how I spend my time in an entirely new context without the pressures and expectations that shape my daily life at home.”
Read more about Robert’s decision to study abroad his senior year.
To set an example for others
Tharaly (she/her, Spelman College) creates a blog titled “Beyond the 6%,” inspired by the statistic that only around six percent of Black college students study abroad.
Originally from Haiti and now a student at an HBCU in Atlanta, Tharaly writes about the transition from Spelman to a semester abroad at a predominantly white program in a Scandinavian country. She shares her successes, challenges, and how her Positive Psychology Core Course influences her perspectives of belonging and identity while abroad.
“I want to use this blog to share my experiences abroad, the good and the bad, to inspire more students of color to take the risk and find the opportunity to go abroad.
It’s easy to feel as though you don’t belong. Your school may be unfamiliar, your hometown unknown, and your culture or identity questioned. But whether you’re studying abroad or stepping into any unfamiliar space, remember this: you belong.”
To explore his identity, both past and future
Oli (he/him, Kenyon College) grew up in a small Wisconsin town and studies at Kenyon College in Ohio, an equally small and rural spot.
But “Denmark has been an unread, ever-rooted page” in his life thanks to his grandfather, who grew up in Denmark just a short distance from Copenhagen, which is what inspired Oli to travel from the American Midwest to the Danish capital.
Aided with old stories and photos from his grandfather, Oli’s blog is dedicated to discovering his family history, while also charting his own path and exploring different facets of his identity.
“As a sociology major, you can bet that identity is something I mull over often. Not just the whole idea of ‘where do you come from?’ but maybe also ‘What are you doing here?’ I have a whole new identity to consider as ‘a student abroad.’ But what does that mean for me? As of now… I’m still working on that.”
To rekindle her creativity and passions
When Natalie (she/her, Vanderbilt University) thought about what truly drew her abroad, she wrote about how all of the academic pressure at school had caused her to put aside time for hobbies and passions in favor of extra study time or coursework.
“I love my studies… but with so much pressure to achieve academically, I don’t even notice my creative side slowly slipping away from me. Coming to Copenhagen, I knew that I wanted to focus on spending my time immersing myself in the culture, but I also wanted to immerse myself in joy and rekindle the creativity that I never let myself use back home.”
By taking courses like Storytelling Through Photography and Creative Nonfiction Workshop and exploring local yoga and pottery studies, Natalie used her time abroad to re-connect with her creative side and grow in new ways.
To inspire personal growth
Elise (she/her, George Washington University) self identifies as an over-committer, involved in many extracurriculars at her home university. Reflecting on her packed schedule, she admits that she often measures her success by how much she does for other people. Studying abroad could be a way to break out of this pattern.
“I wanted to do something that was just for me. Studying abroad wasn’t something that was going to win me brownie points with the people back home. Instead, it was an opportunity for me to explore a new part of the world and experience a new culture, allowing me to grow and learn for myself.”
A semester in Sweden was the perfect chance for Elise to set aside her commitments at home, at least temporarily, so that she could invest in her own academic success and personal growth.
“I’m excited to try a whole bunch of new things with the freedom to keep pursuing what is interesting and fulfilling to me, but also the willingness to let go of the things that aren’t for me.”