Study Abroad Expenses- UGA

I have been accepted to the UGA study abroad maymester in Scotland and have to pay much more than financial aid will cover. These expenses will cover classes, travel, and accommodations in Scotland. Since I work part-time and attend school full time any funds would be extremely helpful. The initial payment of $3,900 is due by the beginning of February and the remainder will be used toward airfare and miscellaneous items like bus tickets.  


My personal goals were shaped in such a way for me to make sure that I never end up in a position like that again and I never want my family to deal with such horrible things. I aspire to be the best I can be in absolutely every aspect of my life and I feel that has given me a real drive as an individual. Academically I have always been a high achiever since it was instilled at a young age, but I definitely put the most pressure on myself. I feel that knowledge really is power, and through that outlet I will be able to make something out of my circumstances. I hope to obtain a doctoral degree one day whether it be an MD or a PhD I want to make a mark on the world of science. Professionally I hope to be a noteworthy person in the field of pathology and microbiology. I want my name and my story to be known and I want to inspire girls to pursue STEM degrees. I want to be a role model, just like I would have appreciated when I was younger.

I decided to study abroad so that I can become more knowledgeable. Having never left the United States, I have no tangible evidence of what the rest of the world is like. As an American I feel that I live in this bubble of false realities. The news can only portray what they feel necessary and I think that finding the truth for myself will allow me to think about health issues and disease prevention concepts in a new light. I want to make my mark and explore what the rest of the world has to offer, and I’ll never know until I chart that.

Since I am in the College of Agriculture, I have the opportunity to experience an astounding amount of STEM related materials, but I am not really exposed to the political and cultural aspects. As a Public Health minor it is imperative to learn about how the social and political acts affect health outcomes. These given courses on socio-cultural perspectives on diversity and the comparisons of political parties will give me a different angle to view tangible issues while also experiencing it first hand. Whatever I decide to do with my career I will require both STEM and cultural knowledge in order to do my job effectively and to make a difference.