May Term is just a month away and many students are setting their sights on traveling abroad for the abbreviated academic term. Senior film production major Paige Howard reflects on the value of her experience traveling to India last summer and fall, where she participated in an exchange with Mary Baldwin’s all-women’s college partner, Lady Doak College, in Madurai. She produced the short video below.
How were you able to participate in the exchange? Because it is an exchange program, tuition is included. All that the student pays for is the plane ticket and any additional spending money. My family was able to help me with these expenses.
Talk about one of your most memorable experiences. There are so many. Going at dawn to see the villagers with one of our professors. We had been in the city most of our trip, so to learn about the villages only 30 minutes away was a very powerful experience.
How do you think the experience enhanced your work in your major? The experience taught me to pay more attention to the everyday things and my general surroundings. Film is a visual medium, so it is especially important for me to see as much as possible in order to capture it on film and in the editing room.
How do you think the trip might have changed you? I am more adventurous. Before, I was content to stay inside and not go out and do anything. Now, I am more than willing to go out and do everything! Even the little things like grocery shopping. I would say that this trip has made me happier in general.