Living and Studying in the United States

For an academic year, I had the great opportunity to realize my desire to study for a year at a famous U.S. university. In France, the school I attend is an institute of political studies and has many exchange programs with universities throughout the world.

Students have the opportunity to complete their third year abroad. So, in January of my second year, I chose my destination and prepared all the necessary documents. Choosing my destination was not the most difficult part, since I have always dreamed of studying in a U.S. university. Moreover, my concentration is international relations, so I chose to apply to Georgetown University in Washington, DC, since it is well known for its international affairs curriculum.

All the teachers and the director at my school in France were very supportive. I was surprised, because I had been trying for three years to study in the United States. The other people I'd met before made me understand that a wheelchair user cannot even think of studying abroad. Indeed, I am in a wheelchair, but I have always been convinced that I have the right to the same dreams as many young people my age. But in France, the services for disabled students are limited, especially compared to what I have seen in the United States. In most French cities, the universities are not wheelchair-accessible, without mentioning the student accommodations and the transportation system. For people with disabilities in France, this means it requires a lot of perseverance and determination to go to university. And when people with disabilities apply for exchange programs, they have to prove at least ten times as much as the other students that they have the abilities to attend such a program. Very few disabled people attend French universities, so I would guess there are even fewer who have the same opportunities I had to study abroad.

So, during winter break, I worked on a detailed letter to my school in France, explaining why I had chosen this destination and how it would contribute to my professional goals. In January, I learned the great news: I was accepted as an exchange student at Georgetown University, with a scholarship to pay the tuition. I was very happy, especially because at least 25 students had applied and only five spots were available. From then on, I had plenty of administrative things to take care of: a visa, how to finance my stay, and flight arrangements. I also had to arrange a loan to cover expenses the scholarship wouldn't encompass. And, of course, I also had to take care of more specific things, like having my wheelchair checked over.

Finally, in August, my parents and my little sister took me to the airport in Paris. I was extremely happy, but at the same time, a little worried about what was awaiting me. The first week in the United States included plenty of administrative steps (again!) -- contacting the exchange student coordinator and the person responsible for the Disability Support Services (DSS), opening a bank account and more.

But I felt comfortable right away. People were very nice to me and they were all very willing to help. My room was great: a (true!) wheelchair-accessible room. It was actually a double-occupancy room, but I had it all to myself, which was even better. My residence hall was very well located and I arranged my schedule with the DSS, so that I could get to my classes easily. During the whole year, I had my classes in the same building and it took me no more than five minutes to get there from my room. This was very different from France, where it takes me at least twenty minutes!

Initially, I thought I would need to use a personal assistant while in the United States, but I learned to do many things myself before I left and didn't end up using an assistant. I was also extremely surprised by all the services available for students with disabilities in the United States. When I had to register for my classes, the exchange program coordinator met me at a place convenient for me. I had never seen that before! Also, all my teachers were available to me, e.g. to pick up books at the library. Another thing that was completely new to me was the wheelchair-accessible transportation system. I could take the bus as anyone else, as well as the metro (subway). I no longer felt different from others and it helped me to get used to the place very rapidly. Moreover, I discovered that I could do everyday things I had never thought I would be able to do by myself. I loved the United States so much that I extended my stay during the summer and took additional classes.

Now, I am back in France and everyone around me finds that I have changed, and especially that I am more autonomous. My year abroad enabled me to be more independent and made me more confident. My parents no longer hesitate to leave me alone in my apartment. I proved to them that I am able to live alone, as any other woman my age. Moreover, now that I have seen all the accommodations available for people with disabilities in the United States, I would like to try to do something to improve the life of the French students with disabilities. And I know there is much to do…. However, as soon as I graduate, I would like to go back to the United States to do an internship at the United Nations headquarters and perhaps pursue graduate school in translation or international affairs. I hope that in a few years, every French disabled student who wants to will be able to experience what I experienced last year and what I can't wait to experience again!