I first heard about the Oxford Study Abroad Program from my HON 100 student mentor freshmen year. She shared the amazing experiences she enjoyed, including formal dinners, punting around campus, and the Oxford Union. Just over three years later, having the chance to experience it myself has been both incredibly rewarding, and genuinely life changing. With just about five weeks remaining, I know it is going to be very hard to leave this place.
We are currently in week six of our Hilary Term studies and I have already learned so much in both of my courses. My primary tutorial focusing on International Financial Markets has undoubtedly expanded my knowledge of global economies. Having the chance to learn about exchange rates and the history of both the Sterling and Euro has been especially eye opening, helping me better understand how policy decisions are shaping the world’s economies. Not to mention how my tutor, Mr. Horsewood, encourages me to find related topics that interest me and further tailors the coursework to cover it. My secondary tutorial focuses on Money and Banking where I examine monetary policies used in recent financial crises. Interestingly, as I noted my aims to become a professor myself, my secondary tutor, Dr. Palano, structured the course to include research presentations that I present as if I am teaching a class. It is also worthy of mention how amazing it has been to study at some of the most beautiful and historic libraries in the world. (My personal favorite is the first floor of the Radcliffe Camera)
Although academics have taken up a decent amount of time, I have taken every chance I get to meet new people and do cool things. Living alongside flatmates from three different continents has exposed me to new perspectives while making everyday life more entertaining. In Oxford, I have had the opportunity to participate in a wide array of student activities. From formal dinners at New College, of which I’m convinced is the best of the Oxford Colleges, to late-night karaoke and joining local run clubs, there is rarely a free evening in my schedule. I have also taken the time to travel, both in the United Kingdom as well as Europe itself. Particularly memorable has been exploring Bath and its vast amount of Roman history, the Isle of Wight for its nature and stunning coastline, and of course London as there’s just so much to do there. My favorite journey has, however, been an unplanned trip to Tenerife where we went hiking through the mountains, relaxed on black sand beaches, and visited the world’s best water park. Along the way we met some incredible locals who welcomed us to the island’s culture, truly giving us an authentic Tenerife experience.
Conclusively, I want to sincerely thank the UT Honors Program and faculty for making this opportunity possible. I hope reading our Oxford stories will inspire the next group of Honors students to partake in this life changing experience and just go for it! With five weeks still ahead of me, I plan to make the most out of every moment and follow Dr. Palano’s advice: “you only live once!”- Ethan Beck
