Semester Abroad in Aix-en-Provence
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Living in the inner city of Philadelphia, I was not offered many opportunities to take courses involving the French Language. I did not get the opportunity to study French in school until eighth grade, since then, it has been my favorite subject in school. When I started college at Susquehanna in 2012, I immediately declared a minor in the language. As time evolved and I started learning more and more I wanted to add French as an additional major alongside Broadcasting.
I am an African-American woman attending a private, liberal arts university. I have been fortunate enough to make the best of my humble beginnings; overcoming the obstacle of living in a low-income, one parent house and still receiving a strong, quality education. Growing up, my mother felt the urge to push me into different activities to help mold me into a talented, motivated, and cultured woman. We did not have a lot of money but she always researched ways to put my brother and I into summer camps and after school programs for the exposure and to be influenced by surroundings other than my community. My mother was also very involved in activities growing up and wanted the same things for us. She worked hard to send us to quality schools so we did not have to attend our neighborhood schools. Because of her I have learned to take full advantage of all opportunities presented to me.
The activity that was the most influential to me and who I am today is studying the French language. I first started learning the French language when I was eight. I was excited to learn something new and different, because even at eight I knew many of my peers were not learning a second language or even the French language. The two people who first started teaching me French were my godmothers, Shana and Kerry. They would come to my house a few times a week or even take me to dinner to practice the foundation of the language. They took me to my first French restaurant in Philadelphia, where I fell in love with formal French dining.
Spending a semester abroad is not just an academic requirement to graduate for my major. I have a strong personal interest in improving my language and intercultural competency.
Declaring my minor in French was just the first step closer to my goal. Knowing I was definitely studying abroad in France was the second step. The third step was finding the right trip. After meeting with the study abroad office at Susquehanna and learning about IAU College in France I knew that was the perfect trip for me. Being able to spend a full semester in France is something I dreamed of since I was eight. I always knew it was something I was going to do and I am so close to achieving this dream.
Living in the inner city of Philadelphia, I was not offered many opportunities to take courses involving the French Language. I did not get the opportunity to study French in school until eighth grade, since then, it has been my favorite subject in school. When I started college at Susquehanna in 2012, I immediately declared a minor in the language. As time evolved and I started learning more and more I wanted to add French as an additional major alongside Broadcasting.
I am an African-American woman attending a private, liberal arts university. I have been fortunate enough to make the best of my humble beginnings; overcoming the obstacle of living in a low-income, one parent house and still receiving a strong, quality education. Growing up, my mother felt the urge to push me into different activities to help mold me into a talented, motivated, and cultured woman. We did not have a lot of money but she always researched ways to put my brother and I into summer camps and after school programs for the exposure and to be influenced by surroundings other than my community. My mother was also very involved in activities growing up and wanted the same things for us. She worked hard to send us to quality schools so we did not have to attend our neighborhood schools. Because of her I have learned to take full advantage of all opportunities presented to me.
The activity that was the most influential to me and who I am today is studying the French language. I first started learning the French language when I was eight. I was excited to learn something new and different, because even at eight I knew many of my peers were not learning a second language or even the French language. The two people who first started teaching me French were my godmothers, Shana and Kerry. They would come to my house a few times a week or even take me to dinner to practice the foundation of the language. They took me to my first French restaurant in Philadelphia, where I fell in love with formal French dining.
Spending a semester abroad is not just an academic requirement to graduate for my major. I have a strong personal interest in improving my language and intercultural competency.
Declaring my minor in French was just the first step closer to my goal. Knowing I was definitely studying abroad in France was the second step. The third step was finding the right trip. After meeting with the study abroad office at Susquehanna and learning about IAU College in France I knew that was the perfect trip for me. Being able to spend a full semester in France is something I dreamed of since I was eight. I always knew it was something I was going to do and I am so close to achieving this dream.
Organizer
Sam Lewis
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
