Name: Deidre Scott
Class: 2005
Major: Journalism
Minor: Women in Politics
Hometown: Bellingham, MA

Studied at: Regents College, London—Spring 04

Although she had traveled to other countries, Deidre was determined to spend a semester abroad. “At the beginning of my sophomore year I began to think about it. Instead of just a vacation, I though it would be a really enriching experience to live in another culture and go to school there."

She felt that Regents would be an excellent choice because it’s located in the center of London. “The location was so ideal. When I was there I met people out in clubs, just talking to them, and other study abroad students. Some other students, from other schools, had to travel 40 minutes on the Tube to get to the center of London, and I was living there. It was a really nice area.”

From London, Deidre traveled throughout the UK, to Scotland, Ireland and Wales. She also made her way to Spain, Germany, France and Holland. “I learned a lot about myself from the travel. Before traveling and staying in youth hostels I liked having my own things, and I like being comfortable, in a sheltered sort of way. But I learned that none of that really matters because the experience was so worthwhile. I was able to do a lot more for myself than I thought I would be able to do, and I enjoyed every minute of it."

Regents offers a wide range of courses for study abroad students. “I took Civilization of London, for example, which met twice a week; one day was lecture, and the other day was a field trip so I got to see parts of the city free, because the school was paying for it.”

Deidre stayed in a dorm where most of the students were from the U.S. At first, she was disappointed, but now, she says, she’s glad. “I have friends from all over the United States now, that I can go visit. And they’re friends I think I’ll have for the rest of my life, because we shared such an amazing experience together.”

Her advice to other students?

”Do it. Just do it. Don’t question it. You’re more likely to regret not going than going. It’s your experience and it’s what you make of it—so it’s not going to be bad if you have a positive attitude and you want to make it a good experience. If you’re open to meeting people and learning new things and learning about other cultures, it’s going to be the best experience of your life. Undoubtedly. It’s been the best experience of my life so far.”