My educational experience abroad had a significant impact on my growth; professionally, academically, and personally. Before this program, I had rarely stepped outside my comfort zone, and I never imagined I would one day live alone in a foreign country, navigating daily life in my fourth language. The full French immersion experience in Strasbourg forced me to grow in ways I didn’t anticipate. I truly enjoy language learning, thus being able to put this passion to the fullest potential helped me reinforce my passion even further. I learned how to adapt quickly, communicate across cultural differences, and trust myself in unfamiliar environments. These lessons extended far beyond the classroom and will stay with me throughout my life. Academically, being surrounded by French professors and peers challenged me to approach learning from new perspectives. Studying French history, society, and international relations in their cultural context gave me a much deeper understanding than I ever could have gained at home. It also strengthened my ability to think critically and globally. Professionally, my internship at ICube gave me my first real experience working in a research lab abroad. It was especially meaningful to be trusted as part of an international research team and to apply my technical skills in a project that has the potential to impact real-world healthcare innovation. What made the experience even more powerful was the personal connection I had to the research topic. My aunt, who helped raise me, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when I was in middle school. Witnessing her experience inspired me to work on something that could contribute to better diagnosis and understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. It was incredibly meaningful to be able to merge my personal motivation with my academic interests in computer science and data modeling. This project helped me realize that I want to continue doing research that bridges technology and healthcare, especially for underserved or overlooked communities.
Studying abroad pushed me far beyond my comfort zone. I never imagined living alone in a foreign country, navigating daily life in my fourth language. What made the experience especially meaningful was the personal connection to my research: my aunt’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s inspired me to focus on better tools for understanding neurodegenerative diseases. Combining this motivation with my interests in computer science and data modeling showed me that I want to continue bridging technology and healthcare, especially for underserved communities.