For my EDGE project I went to Germany,
Switzerland, and France, to study Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein for the 200th anniversary of the novel The
reason I chose to do this for my EDGE project is that I really like studying
abroad. I participated in my first study abroad in 2015 and it inspired me to
travel more and continue my education.
Because
this was not my first study abroad, I was lucky enough to already know what I
needed to do to prepare for the trip. After I applied and was approved as part
of the program, I had to pay for the tuition and my flights. I really didn’t
have the money for it, but I knew that this was a once in a lifetime
opportunity, so I applied for scholarships and took out a loan. After that
portion of the planning was done, I was able to start on my coursework
(including reading the novel Frankenstein).
My goals for my course work were to
better understand the history, art, culture, and science behind Shelley’s
classic novel. I signed up for a biology class and a literature class, so that
I could have the full experience of studying abroad. I had other goals as well
that were more personal and professional, rather than academic. I would study
Frankenstein for 2 weeks in Europe. I would improve my skills as a writer. I
would also gain a better understanding of other cultures, in order to take
steps toward being a member of a global community. A big reason that I wanted
to do this project to extend my ability to empathize with other cultures.
Traveling is the best way to learn about other cultures first hand. Art,
Science and literature from other cultures can help us understand them better,
and I think that understanding is the first step towards a closer global
community.
With the help of my professors and the
new friends that I made on the trip, I was able to achieve all of my goals. My
writing has improved because of my new experiences. My ability to understand
other cultures has greatly improved. I also have a much greater understanding
and appreciation of the things that went into Frankenstein, than I did before the trip.
One of the things that I was most excited
about learning was something that I didn’t even expect to learn. I really love
gothic literature so I was already aware of the concept of the Sublime, but on
this trip I was able to actually experience it for myself. The Sublime is a
mixture of negative and positive emotional reactions, like fear and love. When
I was standing in Chamonix and visiting the alps, I was able to really
experience this first hand. From the
village looking up at the alps, I was surprised by how in awe and fearful I
felt. But it was even more amazing from the top of Mont Blanc, looking down at
Chamonix. The view from the top of Mont Blanc was so beautiful, and also caused
me to be full of fear at the possibility of dying at any moment, because the
air at over 15,000 ft. above the Earth is very thin and I could easily have
fallen.
Because I had so many unforgettable
experiences, I have a new appreciation for the EDGE program. I think that SUU
put the EDGE program in place to help their students learn in a new and
exciting way, while also applying the things they are learning to real world
experiences. A lot of students leave college without the skills they need to
succeed, because all the have is the book knowledge, rather than practical
knowledge. The metaphor of the EDGE program is that it gives SUU students an
edge in the future, for grad school or career opportunities. Not only will I
have a degree on my resume, but also a study abroad that required practical
learning skills, so it gives me an edge with the competition.
