Anna Lloyd
About My Study Abroad Program
Major/Minor: Majors: Global Studies, Political Science; Minor: Conflict Management
Program: DIS: Summer (DIS: Copenhagen and DIS: Stockholm)
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden
Email: aelloyd@email.unc.edu
Term: Summer 2022
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
Even before I went to college, I knew that I wanted to study abroad. It had always been a dream of mine. I had planned on going abroad for an entire semester, but after Covid took away so much time on campus from me, I didn’t want to be away from campus that long. Instead, I decided I wanted to do a summer study abroad program instead! I chose DIS largely based on their course offerings. I wanted a program that offered courses that aligned with my majors and minor and would give me credit for them as well. After searching through DIS’s extensive and diverse course offerings, I found several that were incredibly interesting to me. Then after further researching the program, reading blogs from past participants, and learning how the program supports and assists its students, I was sold!
What did you learn about yourself?
I learned that I am far more capable of things than I thought I was, and I am actually quite good under pressure when things get challenging or stressful. I also learned that it’s okay to travel or do something by myself if my friends are busy, in class, etc. There were some things I wanted to do while I was abroad, so I went out and did them even if my friends weren’t able to come with me!
What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
I have so many, but one of my favorite memories was going with my friend to see the Royal Danish Ballet perform for FREE on an outside stage that overlooked the canal in Copenhagen. I have been a dancer since I was three years old and adore ballet so it felt like a dream to watch such talented dancers perform. And there truly is no better background for performance art than the glistening water of the canal in a city as beautiful as Copenhagen.
What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
One of the best ways to help prevent uncertainties is to be prepared! I literally read hundreds of blogs from previous DIS students, blogs about Copenhagen and Stockholm in general, what clothing people tended to wear there, what the weather was like in the summertime, what the cultural norms were, and more. I did research on what landmarks and places I wanted to visit, different foods I wanted to try, and different things I wanted to experience while abroad. Doing all this research really helped me feel more prepared for my journey abroad and limited unwanted surprises. However, things always come up when traveling (that’s just a part of life!), so when things get uncertain or difficult, it’s important to first trust in yourself and know that you can handle whatever challenge you’re facing. Second, you should never hesitate to reach out and ask for help from your advisors, teachers, and assistants, as well as your friends and family. They are all there to lean on for emotional support. And finally, always be ready for the unknown and know that it is okay for things to shift or change and just go with the flow! Sometimes the best things happen outside of your comfort zone!
Memories
