Nicole Harkness – Psychology & Sociology – Level 3
Southern Connecticut State University, USA
The QMU Exchange programme and the Santander funding scheme has given me an opportunity of a lifetime. What once was just a dream of studying in America became a reality all thanks to the help of funding I was given by Santander. Due to being care experienced I haven’t ever had a family to fund adventures like this, and without the funding I would have never been able to go achieve my dreams. Trying to sum up my exchange experience into a little blog is close to impossible however the experience was life changing.
As daunting as it was at first, I settled in well, I jointed the SCSU cheer team, cheered and danced at football games and I travelled all around America.
I was lucky enough to make friends for life too, I thoroughly enjoyed the different set up of learning and I enjoyed being able to pick my classes to tailor to my interest. I learned so much about my degree while studying away which has enabled me to figure out what I would like to do with me degree in later life. I created great bonds not only with new friends but with my professors and I was able to really find myself and learn new things about myself which I never really knew of before.
I learned so many life lessons and I was able to have an amazing time while doing so, my exchange semester has had the biggest impact on my life both physically and mentally. It has made me realise that I love to travel and that I want to move away from my hometown permanently. I am extremely grateful for QMU for providing this opportunity and more so to the Santander funding as if it wasn’t for funding I simply wouldn’t of been able to embark on this amazing journey in life that has now got me to where I am.
