See stories from GVSU Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients before, during & after their adventures abroad.
I would like to say thank you for your support of the study abroad program at Grand Valley. As a Murray Scholar, I was able to have a unique study abroad experience that has had a great impact on my personal and professional journey.
As a student interested in the study of music through a cultural lens, I utilized my study abroad to travel to Thailand and learn to play many traditional Thai instruments. Being immersed in Thai culture allowed me to gain first hand experience as to how views on music affect the uses Thais have for music and how it is performed.
Along with strong academic growth, I also experience personal growth through my study abroad journey. I gained a level of independence and confidence through learning in a foreign environment and interacting on a daily basis with people who come from a different background than I do. My study abroad experience further drove my interest in cultural studies and the music of Southeast Asia.
Since returning from my study abroad, I have graduated from GVSU and am now continuing my passion for cultural studies by pursuing a master’s degree in ethnomusicology at the University of Hawaii. I am enjoying exploration and understanding. My study abroad experience, which was made possible through the Murray Scholarship, was instrumental in bringing me to this place in my academic career. Thank you so much for your continued support of study abroad.
Sincerely,
Megan DeKievit
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