Where are you from? (Hometown)
Moorpark, California
Major/Minor
Educational Studies and Dance
What has been the most meaningful idea you’ve discovered or learned so far in preparation for your study abroad to Finland?
The most meaningful idea that I’ve learned so far during preparation for the Finland abroad is the fact that they believe that play is a fundamental human right. All students, and teachers, in Finland value play and believe that is the place where learning/the most growth takes place at a young age.
For me, the Finland Study Abroad is an opportunity to…
Going to Finland is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me because it combines two subjects that I am very passionate/want to learn more about on one trip. Finland is somewhere that I have wanted to go for a long time, but I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to. This is also a great opportunity to get to travel with some new, and old, friends. I am so excited to see why they are ranked number one in the world for both education and sustainability!
What do you want to be better at?
Something that I want to get better at is understanding other people’s cultures. We have started to learn about how culture, sustainability, and education are all interconnected, but the root of all three is culture. I hope to learn a lot about that and then get to see it in person!
How does learning about Finnish education, sustainability, and culture shape the way you view, and want to engage with, the world?
Finland is a great place to start when looking at countries who have education and sustainability figured out. I hope to be able to learn how they changed their education system from being mediocre to consistently above average, how they practice sustainability daily, and how they are the happiest people in the world. Hopefully, we can bring some of those ideas with us into the United States!