Great Britain's Lessons In and Out of the Classroom

Studying abroad was an unforgettable journey I am glad I embarked upon because of the positive impact it had on me both academically and personally.  

I spent one academic year in the Criminal Justice program at the University of Whales at Cardiff in the United Kingdom. Second only to Cambridge University, The University of Whales has the longest running program in Criminal Justice in Great Britain. Through my program, I gained analytical skills and an interdisciplinary understanding of crime, as well as an understanding of how justice policies are devised and implemented both in the UK and internationally. I aspire to work within a federal or international law enforcement agency after serving as a police officer in California.

While abroad, I took three courses: Police and Public Policy, Jails and Prisons and Race, and Crime and Justice. Having taken similar classes in the US allowed me to broaden my views and understandings of the subject within a foreign community. Studying in a new environment and school system was challenging, especially with my learning disability. I was used to small intimate classrooms where assignments and reading material were structured for me. However, at the University of Whales in Cardiff, my courses were held in large lecture halls and students were forced to decipher assignments with minimal direction from professors.  While this made researching and writing much harder at first, this style eventually helped me to learn to extract the most relevant information for assignments. I also became more self-reliant and learned to structure my time better. I feel these skills have better prepared me for the workplace.    

My trip was not only an academic experience but a fun and exploratory journey to discover new cultures and peoples. I was able to participate in the university football team. My participation in the club was received openly because I was able to give insight into American customs and traditions relating to football. I was also fortunate to hold a leadership role within the football club and aid our team to winning the Welsh Bowl. Choosing to study abroad was one of the greatest decisions I could have made because it allowed me to surpass personal academic and social limits.

I had a life changing experience while I studied abroad. Not only did my academics challenge me to push myself but so did the experience as a whole. My views of the world, people I once found strange or weird and political and social views I once had, have been forever changed. The experience made me more tolerant towards people and ideas I once thought negatively of as well as more opened minded to change. Without the Gilman Scholarship I would not have been able to finance my study abroad program and as a result I would not be where I am today, or the person I have become.

For my Gilman Follow-on Project, I conducted presentations to college students at the Office of International Programs at San Francisco State University and to high school students at the driving school I work for. During the workshops I walked applicants through my process of applying for scholarships and explained my success in attaining three scholarships including the Gilman Scholarship for study abroad. I think it was quite motivating for students to see that a low income student with a learning disability was able to study abroad. The study abroad program helped open new opportunities for me. The experience has emboldened me to pursue bigger goals than the ones I once had.

After graduation, Jonathan enrolled in the California State Police Academy.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides U.S. undergraduate students receiving federal Pell Grant funding with grants to support their participation in study abroad programs worldwide. Learn more by visiting www.iie.org/gilman.