Muhammad Shawaiz Khan’s Learn Abroad Journey at UC Berkeley: Lessons and Growth
My Learn Abroad journey has been nothing short of a massive learning experience for me. From preparing my application and presentations during the stressful late-semester days to leaving behind unforgettable memories back in the small city in the East Bay, the journey has had many of its ups and downs, but has led to many positive outcomes for me on a personal level.
My 8-week study period at UC Berkeley was exciting. Walking around the open and pleasant campus with complete freedom during the chilly weather (for our standards) was always an enjoyable experience, as the 10-minute walks towards and back from my classes never got boring. Exploring the various outdoor areas, halls, and grand libraries was fascinating, where we even got to experience Robert Oppenheimer’s old office in the Physics Hall of the campus. Taking classes with professors/PhD students who are very invested in the courses they teach, to the extent that they develop their own websites for coursework, was a big “wow” moment for me. The mode of teaching and trust that the instructors implemented with the students was very unique and different from what I have experienced throughout my academic journey. One example of it was in my UI course, where the instructor had a live classroom setup, where he would do fun and unique activities requiring students’ input on that live classroom simultaneously while teaching in-person, which is something I wish that instructors here would implement in their teaching to make their sessions more interactive.
My interactions with people there have also been a major aspect of why this trip was worth taking. Whether it be making stronger bonds with people from my own university, having chats or plans with other people, or even finding a cricket group to play with within a bus ride back home, every experience was unique and brilliant on its own. Learning about the different cultures and areas that other people come from really broadened my vision of the world that we live in, and how each area is unique. Talking with professors on their journeys throughout their lives and asking for their advice was something I’m glad I did, which brought me way out of my comfort zone, where I am usually very hesitant about talking to such people regarding this kind of stuff. Having honest and serious conversations with my peers about how they are planning their future was eye-opening for me.
Moreover, the journey to Berkeley was the first time I ever felt independent in my life. Whether it be filling my own visa applications for the US, learning to iron and do my laundry for the first time, or learning how to navigate the area as a solo traveller half of the time, the independence I felt during the whole process was something I desperately needed to experience. The experience of planning and executing travel plans around the area and campus was very enjoyable, which is unfortunately very rare to do at home. However, having to deal with major hiccups and hindrances in some of your plans was an eye-opening experience as well. Going through these bad experiences made me painfully learn a lot about myself and how I should deal with such stuff in the future as well, which turned out to be a much more positive outcome than what I initially thought at that moment.
The advice I will give to others regarding the whole process is to become an early mover. Start planning to fill out your learn abroad application as early as possible, starting with the documentation/meta-curricular activities part first. Even start preparing your presentations as soon as you are done with the application, this will give you plenty of time to plan and prepare your presentation, and to deliver it with great confidence. Hopefully, after your selection, start filling up your visa application as early as possible, too, as visa appointments are usually delayed up to 2-3 months, which will leave you short of time to do the steps after it. Once you are in Berkeley, take your time to learn and navigate the area around you. Prepare well before every major trip you plan to go to, research and ask people around you regarding it. Never hesitate to hang out with people, and try to hang out more with people outside your main university circle. Lastly, meet with your professors, chat with them, they are the people who can provide you with the best insights in life that can make you successful, and do it as early as possible, as they themselves can be very busy at the end of the semester too.
