During the 2024 summer term, I had the great opportunity to study in Cambridge, England. In this faculty-led 4 week program for students in the university honors program, I studied the life and works of William Shakespeare and the development and impact of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, built many strong connections with my peers, and explored the beautiful United Kingdom. The courses were highly discussion-based and involved organized debates, resulting in an interactive and involved learning process, especially with the small class size. Although the accelerated coursework was initially intimidating, the course instructors were wonderfully helpful in navigating both the course itself and other experiences in Cambridge.

Outside of the typical class schedule, there were many group field trips to further engage with content learned in the classroom. This immersive program included touring and watching a performance at the recreation of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, visiting Darwin’s house and Shakespeare’s birthplace, and viewing original documents from Darwin and Shakespeare’s folios at Cambridge libraries. In addition to the many exciting activities planned outside of the course, there were two 3-day weekends in which I traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland and London. During these excursions, I hiked to the beautiful overlook at Arthur’s seat, visited Buckingham Palace, and saw the works of many prominent artists at the London National Gallery.

​Cambridge served as an excellent backdrop to study the history of Shakespeare and evolution, allowing for a higher sense of immersion through the location’s history than would be possible elsewhere. Being able to see an authentic Shakespeare play in the Globe Theater or view Darwin’s notes after studying these topics adds an unparalleled level of personal interest and immersion to the courses that would be impossible to achieve in a traditional classroom environment. Additionally, by living together on an unfamiliar campus and experiencing similar challenges, it was easy for the group to form close bonds. This led to an opportunity for personal growth as we navigated foreign landscapes and discovered new cultures. Ultimately, this unforgettable experience has provided me with a heightened understanding and appreciation of history, many strong connections with my peers, and personal growth through new perspectives, and I would highly recommend this program to anyone considering studying abroad.

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