Radar’s own Anna is currently studying abroad in America. Read her updates to find out if study abroad is something you would like to do!
When I was applying to universities, one of the things I looked at and that really appealed to me were places that offered the chance to go and study abroad. I really enjoyed Robert Gordon University’s open day and thought that the course I was applying to, BA Hons Journalism, looked like something that I’d be interested in. So when I then saw all the options that this course was given for studying abroad I knew I definitely wanted to become a student here at RGU. Two years later and I’ve just finished my second year in Aberdeen and will soon be leaving to become a third year, or Junior if I want to get my American right, journalism student at Tennessee Tech University.
Whenever I tell people I’m going on study abroad to Tennessee they seem quite surprised. I suppose you do hear of lots of university students going to Europe or if you’re going to America you would perhaps pick somewhere like California but I knew I wanted to study in the south. The Californian universities do look gorgeous but seem very outdoorsy with lots of canyons and parks. Whilst I can see myself lying on a beach I knew this kind of outdoors wasn’t really for me. My original choice was actually for a university in Texas and then my second and third options were for two different universities in Tennessee. Everybody has different reasons for choosing where they want to go and I guess mine were kind of personal. I’m lucky enough to have friends, who actually feel more like family, that are from Texas and I’ve been to visit them twice before. As cheesy as it sounds I fell in love with being there and it almost felt like home so when I was applying for RGU and saw a university that was about an hour away from them I thought it was meant to be.
Although I didn’t get my first choice I still couldn’t be happier. When I got the email saying I’m going to Tennessee I was in the ABS’ library and probably everyone there heard me squealing with joy!
The reason for Tennessee being my next choice after Texas was for a few different reasons. Firstly it’s closest in RGU’s choices of American universities to Texas so it’s comforting to know that my friends aren’t too far away from me. Going to a good university is of course important however I do think since you’re only going to be abroad for usually just one semester then location is also a major factor for you to base your decisions on. So the next choice I had to make was which out of the two universities in Tennessee did I want to attend. I decided that since Tennessee Tech is one hour closer to Nashville then I would make that my second choice. If you know me at all, you probably know I’m obsessed with TV shows and that one of my favourites is Nashville. Also, on Tuesday nights I’m usually listening in to a country radio station that comes live from the Grand Ole’ Opry. So if I couldn’t get to go to Texas then I knew being only an hour away from basically the capital of country music would be fine with me.
On my last visit to Texas I was turning 16 and for probably the best birthday treat ever I got to go to Memphis, Tennessee with my parents and our friends. I’m absolutely in love with Elvis Presley so we did the fun tourist things like going to Sun Studios and Graceland. I’m always so grateful for getting to have those experiences for my birthday and this year I’ll be turning 21 over there. I would have never imagined getting to spend my sweet sixteen and now my 21st in Tennessee but I can’t wait to start this amazing adventure! I’ll of course still take my studies seriously but a girl’s surely allowed to dream of running in to the cast of Nashville or who knows maybe Taylor Swift will go back to her country routes and I’ll become a part of her squad.