Since high school, Kyla Hurns knew studying abroad was an opportunity that she wanted to take advantage of as soon as possible. Now, the third year ODI Scholar (MSP) from Southfield Michigan has safely returned from the Multicultural Understanding through Non-traditional Discovery Opportunities (MUNDO) London Study Abroad trip with a newfound global perspective she can apply to her work in public policy.
Hurns began her search for her ideal study abroad opportunity with a few factors she wanted to keep in mind. “I knew that I didn't want to give up a full semester,” said Hurns. “I had a couple of friends who went on the MUNDO study abroad trip last year and they spoke very highly of it. They said it was a great way to study abroad, while not having to leave campus for a full semester since you do it over spring break. I also knew that in deciding to study abroad I was potentially not going to get credit towards my major, so I had to get really creative and find ways to still get credit. I took the time to speak with the global education contact from ODI, Louise [Yahiaoui].”
Here, Hurns found that the service focus opportunities offered through MUNDO closely aligned to her own values. “We focused on learning about the different multicultural histories that exist in the United Kingdom, different religions, the LGBTQ+ community, Caribbeans, Africans, and about all of the different types of identities that exist in London and how they can connect to an overall mission for social justice and social change. Then we talked about how we can bring that back to the US.”
Fortunately, Hurns also discovered that this global education opportunity intersected with her specialization in education policy. “We had the opportunity to visit two of the colleges there and talk to students and learn more about how their education system differs from the United States, what their college process is like, and how their university differs from Ohio State, " said Hurns. “We also got to volunteer at a local soup kitchen, which is something that I do while I'm in the US. Being able to take something that I'm interested in and do it abroad was really cool, especially while meeting new people and learning about a new place. All the places we visited, the tours, and speakers were through the lens of implementing social change in my own community.”
While in London, Hurns took time to immerse herself into the city's landscape. She recalled the various adventures that took unexpected turns, “I got to meet so many different types of people and explore the more popular things like Big Ben and London Bridge. We even ran into a Saint Patrick's Day parade where I met the Mayor of London; he was super great and just really excited to see us.” Overall, her experiences helped Hurns imagine a future that embraced exploration. “My biggest takeaway was that I really enjoy traveling and learning about different places, so moving forward in my post-grad plans I want to think about different programs, applying for grad school abroad, or working abroad, " said Hurns. “It was really eye opening to see so many different people living in such a diverse city. I want to continue to do that, but I also want to come back and let as many people I know that this opportunity exists.”
Hurns encourages her peers to begin their own study abroad journey by asking questions. “For anyone interested in studying abroad, reach out to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the person in charge of global education. I knew I wanted to study abroad and that was the first person I reached out saying, ‘I want to find a way to fund my study abroad trip, how do I do it?'” said Hurns. “It's just a matter of telling others what you're interested in, and they'll find a way to get you there.”