"I had always wanted to study abroad when I was in university.  Living in a different country, making friends from around the world and studying in a different environment and culture had always appealed to me.  But I was afraid.  Nervous about living thousands of miles from my friends and family, worried that I’d get lost on public transportation in a foreign city, concerned about language barriers.  And then there were the financial concerns.

In the end, I never did pursue any study abroad programmes while in college.  But then in my senior year, a few months before graduation, I received a letter in the mail about the UK 9/11 Scholarship Programme.  This got me thinking.  I had been planning to pursue a Master’s degree after graduation and began to think that the UK might just be the perfect place (they speak English!).  

I landed in London on 6th September 2007, eager to start my Master’s Degree course in Social and Cultural Psychology at the London School of Economics.  It didn’t take me long to settle in to the British way of life, and I quickly made friends in my programme.  We spent weekdays in our classes and study groups, and nights and weekends exploring London, the British countryside and mainland Europe!

Living and studying in the UK was the best decision I ever made.  I not only learned a lot through studying, but I also learned a lot about myself.  Being 3000 miles away from home forced me to reflect on who I wanted to be and the path I wanted to take in life.  I gained a new appreciation for my family and friends back in the States, and developed new friendships with people I would never have crossed paths with back home.

Without the UK 9/11 Scholarship Programme I would never have had this great opportunity.  I highly recommend studying in the UK – the universities are top notch and the country is beautiful.  I loved living in London so much that I’m still here three years later!"

Find out more about studying in the UK