by Naomie Dussault
A Brief Bio
I was born and raised in Montreal, so my first language is French, and my family and I moved to Florida a few years ago. Now I live in Toronto for university. I am majoring in Ethics, Society, and Law, with a minor in Bioethics, and a minor in Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health at UofT. An interesting thing about me is that I have my Advanced Scuba Diver certification.
Motivation and Unexpected Benefits of the Summer Abroad Program
I applied to join the Summer Abroad Program because I love travelling and immersing myself in cultures different from mine, as well as interacting with people from various places. Someone who also encouraged me to participate in the Summer Abroad Program was my brother who travelled to South Africa and Italy with the Summer Abroad program and continuously emphasised how amazing and valuable his experiences were. My brother’s positive experiences motivated me to join the program, and I was eager to immerse myself in new cultures. What I didn’t expect was how much the experience would go beyond academics—I built strong friendships, gained a deep appreciation for English culture, and found a perfect balance between education and exploration, which made my time in Oxford enriching and transformative. Unexpectedly, we had a lot of time to visit the beautiful city of Oxford and neighbouring cities, as well as to attend class and do our schoolwork. This was positively surprising as I was wrongly assuming that the program was academically oriented. But in reality, the program as a whole was shared between in-class learning and activities which immersed us in the English culture. I was also able to have this amazing experience thanks to Professor Watson and the incredible Worcester College community.
Advice for Prospective Summer Abroad Students
I would tell them that participating in a Summer Abroad program was one of the best decisions I’ve made and it was my best undergraduate experience. It may be scary at first when you are about to leave your home and family, but what you will discover is that you will find a home in the abroad program, as well as a chosen family. I also encourage you to take a course you are interested in even if you have not studied that subject before. This is the time to try new things and find new passions. Be open to stepping out of your comfort zone– this is when the most amazing experiences and memories are made. Make sure to fully engage with the local culture, explore the city and surrounding areas, and take advantage of every opportunity to connect with your peers and professor. The friendships and global perspectives you’ll gain are invaluable, and you’ll return home with a deeper understanding of yourself and the world.
Personal Growth and Development
My Summer Abroad program at the University of Oxford taught me to always think bigger. Whether this be academically, socially, or globally, there is always more to be attained. In itself, being at Oxford was incredible, but due to our ability to have a work-life balance, my friends and I were able to travel to other cities such as London, Manchester, and Brighton which allowed us to see England through many perspectives. Academically, Professor Watson gave us the opportunity to meet Dr. Adrian Grounds and Mrs. Amy Taylor who are prominent figures in their respectives fields of psychiatry and criminal reformation. I was also able to spend much time with my classmates and learn from each other throughout the course and our trips. Additionally, spending time with classmates during our course and trips fostered collaboration and open-mindedness. These experiences given to me by the Summer Abroad program helped me realise that there is always more to learn and new ways to grow, lessons that will stay with me and guide my personal and professional development.
Creating an Inclusive Environment
The local community in the city of Oxford was very welcoming to students and the community at Worcester College was so wonderful. The city and people made us feel right at home, as if we had been living there our entire lives. I also enjoyed the organised, outside-of-class activities which the Summer Abroad on-site staff prepared for us, especially since these activities were mixed between people taking different summer abroad courses. This allowed us to engage in city visits and activities all together and learn more about the city. I loved that people in my class and other University of Toronto Summer Abroad courses in Oxford were from all over the world; we were able to bond and learn about each other’s cultures. There were also students taking summer abroad courses from different universities around the world which made it even more inclusive. I engaged with both the local community in Oxford and fellow participants by actively participating in city visits and cultural exchanges, which helped create a more inclusive atmosphere. I encouraged others to join conversations about our diverse backgrounds and sought out ways to integrate everyone into activities, ensuring that no one felt left out, regardless of their nationality or course.