I wish I had a time machine to rewind a year and begin again the incredible adventure that was study abroad. Just a couple of weeks ago marked the official One Year Anniversary of when my program began, and because of that I have been reflecting on my trip much more frequently. I find myself thinking about what I was doing this time last fall (planning a trip to the Taj Mahal) and wishing that I could re-live and re-absorb those incredible moments. The SIT program I chose was based in New Delhi, India with a focus specifically on the health and human rights of vulnerable populations throughout the country.

During the time when I began applying to study abroad, I was questioning and rethinking my decision to be pre-med. It was an internal debate that left me everyday feeling more conflicted, and I was slowly starting to think that I had made a premature commitment to medicine. I had very recently begun developing an interest in public health, but was too cautious to abandon my structured plans for med school in place of a field that was still really vague and undefined in my mind. I wanted to be able to experience public health issues and practices personally in order to determine if it was a field I actually found stimulating and fulfilling. It was this train of thought that led me to petition for the program I did. I was also beyond thrilled by the idea of returning to India (which I had visited several times growing up) as a student living in the country.

SIT is known for its experimental, field-based approach to learning. That could not be truer. For five months I was constantly immersed in the country’s dynamic spectrum of health disparities, not just through just textbooks and lectures, but also through direct connections and interactions with people and their communities. Another component of many SIT programs is an Independent Study Project (ISP), which you design and complete entirely yourself. My field study concerned the vulnerability of Kothis and Hijras, two high-risk sexual minorities, to HIV/AIDS and was beyond a doubt one of the most transformative learning experiences I have ever had. My program challenged me to face the scars underlying India’s wonders, but this only left me with a truer love for the country. I could literally go on for hours about my program and ISP, but to keep myself from writing a novel I will stop here and just say to please feel free to contact me whenever if you are interested in more details/ information.

Hanging out with adorable school kids in a rural village in Jamkhed, where we were working with an incredible organization called the Comprehensive Rural Health Project.

My friend Tania (also a fellow Scrippsie!) and me riding an elephant to the top of a fort in Jaipur, India.

To put simply, I left India inspired and impassioned to pursue global health as a career. But even setting this realization aside, I reflect on and treasure the seemingly unremarkable moments in which I felt truly integrated into the society. I loved eating street food, haggling in markets, learning to read and write Hindi, etc. Off-campus study was one of the highlights of my life so far, and I while I recognize that it is not for everyone, I would strongly encourage you to consider your options. There are few chances to live as a student in a new environment and gain an understanding of the place with a depth only afforded by complete immersion. From gaining a heightened sense of independence to a new appreciation of home, the personal merits of off-campus study are unparalleled. Take advantage of the amazingly strong and supportive Off-Campus Study department we have at Scripps! They make study abroad SO easy and accessible regardless of your major or financial aid status. Freshmen/sophomores: any ideas of where you may want to go? Seniors who went abroad, how do you feel about your off-campus study experiences? I’d love to hear your stories and thoughts— share away!

My lovely host family and me celebrating Diwali, the grand festival of lights that enlivened the entire city for nights.

And finally, a picture that I just love. The sign says “Smile and Serve” and was posted in an overcrowded, understaffed government hospital in Aligarh. You can see the long queue of patients waiting in the hallways.