My five-week international honors experience was cancelled this spring after actions taken to stop the spread of COVID-19. I finished my classes online, even though the only two classes I had left were ones that were dependent upon my travel. In one class, the final assignments remained the same and we were required to finish a social entrepreneurship project, in conjunction with a university in Colombia, without meeting our teammates, or visiting the country from where we were meant to conduct additional research. In the second class, our assignments were amended and modified to take into account the experience we would no longer have in South America. The attached assignment at the bottom, and the reflection below are two of the components of my final.
It goes without saying that I was disappointed to learn of the cancellation of our international program. Since March 6, we’ve seen the serious actions taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus around the world, and I understand the decisions of the university. I’m thankful that we are safe and healthy in our respective homes. I’ve spent time with my family, helping to take care of my five-year-old brother. I’ve learned to put things into perspective, and I’ve learned the same thing the people around me are learning: appreciate the little things; take time to slow down; and, most importantly, how crucial it is to stick to some sort of schedule and find something productive to do every day. I believe that my classmates and I have stuck together to maintain morale, and we have handled ourselves professionally, despite all of the unexpected life changes in the past months.
The lack of communication and support we have felt from the program during this time is disappointing to me. Frankly, I don't have any concrete suggestions or solutions for the current state of our program. I think there is a lot missing, and I think there is a lot to be improved upon. None of which can be encapsulated in a paragraph. I think we, as a program, need to take this time to reevaluate the goals and structure of LHP in its entirety. It's not the same program it was at its founding, and that's okay, it shouldn't be, but there are changes to be made. I hope, eventually, my class and I can be included in these conversations about the future of our program.
Regarding my suggestions for our future LHP experience, it saddens me to think that my class will now finish out our major courses and go our separate ways. I always heard upperclassmen talk about the trip as the “last hoorah,” or the last thing you really get to do together as a class. I hope we will find a way to supplement the lost experience, but it is discouraging and disappointing that we have heard so little at this point. I know there are bigger issues in the university than our cancelled trip, but it was something I looked forward to for three years. It was one of the reasons I chose UC. I don’t see the trip being rescheduled, and I don’t see that there is time to replicate the trip at any other point during these last two years, so I hope that I will be able to find time to have an international experience on my own.
I am proud of my writing and the submission of my final projects for this class. Despite the travel being cancelled, I've learned a lot about myself this semester, and I am excited for what my final two years at UC will bring.
It goes without saying that I was disappointed to learn of the cancellation of our international program. Since March 6, we’ve seen the serious actions taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus around the world, and I understand the decisions of the university. I’m thankful that we are safe and healthy in our respective homes. I’ve spent time with my family, helping to take care of my five-year-old brother. I’ve learned to put things into perspective, and I’ve learned the same thing the people around me are learning: appreciate the little things; take time to slow down; and, most importantly, how crucial it is to stick to some sort of schedule and find something productive to do every day. I believe that my classmates and I have stuck together to maintain morale, and we have handled ourselves professionally, despite all of the unexpected life changes in the past months.
The lack of communication and support we have felt from the program during this time is disappointing to me. Frankly, I don't have any concrete suggestions or solutions for the current state of our program. I think there is a lot missing, and I think there is a lot to be improved upon. None of which can be encapsulated in a paragraph. I think we, as a program, need to take this time to reevaluate the goals and structure of LHP in its entirety. It's not the same program it was at its founding, and that's okay, it shouldn't be, but there are changes to be made. I hope, eventually, my class and I can be included in these conversations about the future of our program.
Regarding my suggestions for our future LHP experience, it saddens me to think that my class will now finish out our major courses and go our separate ways. I always heard upperclassmen talk about the trip as the “last hoorah,” or the last thing you really get to do together as a class. I hope we will find a way to supplement the lost experience, but it is discouraging and disappointing that we have heard so little at this point. I know there are bigger issues in the university than our cancelled trip, but it was something I looked forward to for three years. It was one of the reasons I chose UC. I don’t see the trip being rescheduled, and I don’t see that there is time to replicate the trip at any other point during these last two years, so I hope that I will be able to find time to have an international experience on my own.
I am proud of my writing and the submission of my final projects for this class. Despite the travel being cancelled, I've learned a lot about myself this semester, and I am excited for what my final two years at UC will bring.
Doing Business in Colombia.docx | |
File Size: | 362 kb |
File Type: | docx |