Mackenzi embarked on a transformative semester in Paris to expand her academic horizons beyond her operations research major. Taking advantage of the flexible requirements in the fall of her final year at Columbia, she decided to “switch it up” and step outside her comfort zone.
With a post-grad job lined up at the Department of Defense, Mackenzi chose to enroll in International Relations classes while in Paris, allowing her to gain new perspectives in the field while abroad. In the City Diplomacy Lab course, taught by the Lab’s founder Lorenzo Kilhgren Grandi, she was able to conduct mini research projects that explored various cities in a group context.
Meanwhile, at Sciences Po, Mackenzi took a G3 course covering relations between the European Union, China, and the United States. “I had never studied the same situation from three different perspectives before,” she remarked. The large exchange program at Sciences Po greatly enhanced the course, providing perspectives from students the world over.
Thankfully, Mackenzi’s courses were all taught in English, as she had never taken a French class, relying solely on Duolingo for language exposure. Reflecting on the semester, she says, “my language has come so far in such a short amount of time.” Enrolled in A1 French at Sciences Po, she made a point to integrate French into her daily life, ordering food in French, reading books, and listening to podcasts in the language.
Pleasantly surprised by how quickly the Reid Hall community became close-knit, she said, “I definitely didn’t expect to have these roots that grew so quickly.” She appreciated the small class sizes at Reid Hall, allowing her to “form really close relationships with not only my fellow students but also the professors.” Having left the U.S. for the first time only a year ago, she recalled being terrified before boarding the plane. Learning to navigate the metro, get to class, or order from a boulangerie, helped her establish a comforting routine. This adjustment, she noted, served as a great preview for life after graduation.
Outside of the classroom, Mackenzi found the program’s excursions to be a great addition to her academic pursuits. Seeing Claude Monet’s water lily painting at the Musée de L’Orangerie, after having visited Monet’s home on the program’s day trip to Giverny, made for a “really rewarding experience.” Given that she wasn’t enrolled in an art class this semester, she was especially grateful for how Giverny and other excursions complemented her coursework.
To future students, Mackenzi advised taking advantage of their time in Paris by exploring a new place each week. “Be gentle with yourself and set your own goals,” she recommended, “and avoid comparing yourself to what other people are doing.”
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