Madeline Loy
About My Study Abroad Program
Major/Minor: Major in Environmental Studies and double minor in Public Policy and Environmental Justice
Program: DIS: Copenhagen
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Email: madrosel@unc.edu
Term: Summer 2024
Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I had always had the idea of studying abroad in the back of my mind. I had some friends who had studied abroad in previous summers and they enjoyed it. I really just decided last minute that I wanted to do it over the summer and to take the leap and apply. When I got accepted, I found the DIS Copenhagen program, looked through their classes and decided they had exactly what I wanted. I really knew nothing about Copenhagen, and had seen pictures and it looked like the perfect city for what I wanted to do.
What did you learn about yourself?
The experience of studying abroad was a constant test of putting me outside of my comfort zone. I had never traveled like this alone before and had many trials that I faced during the trip. My luggage was missing for the first three days of my trip, I did not know anybody going into the program, and I was plunging into a completely new culture. What I learned most about myself from all of this is that I am resilient and adaptable. Even through all the discomfort, I made the most out of every situation and had the best experience of my life. It all made me so grateful for where I was at and the people I had met.
What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
My favorite memory from my program was a day our professor took the class for a field trip around Copenhagen. Everyone had rented bikes and we biked around the city, and got to see all of the climate adaptation projects. Some of these happened to also be adult playgrounds, so our whole class, including the professor, was having fun on the playground. We then rode to an amazing restaurant called “Granny’s House”, where we were served delicious lunch and I had the best pastry of my life. It was such a fun day and I will never forget it.
What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
My advice would be to embrace it. The whole idea of studying abroad is to have new experiences, and that can come with uncertainty but that will just make you more prepared for something in the future. Perspective is everything, and changing my perspective on how I looked at uncertainty transfigured my experience.
How do you identify?
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Memories
