Attending LISS was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve made this year! Having seen the amazing range of programmes and excursions offered, I knew it was going to be my first choice of summer school.
Being a geography major, I thought it would be insightful to learn more about a more European perspective of colonialism and imperialism through the Wealth and Poverty module. I also took the Entrepreneurship & Society module to gain further insight on social entrepreneurship which is something I am passionate about. I gained many new perspectives through the module content and the fieldtrips that gave us real-life perspective of what we were learning!
I choose Leeds partly because of its location – having travelled to the UK before but mainly staying within London I thought spending a summer in Leeds would be a great opportunity for me to experience other parts of the United Kingdom. Boy was I right! The amount of travelling I did within just this one summer more than quenched my thirst for adventure!
I would advise anyone coming to travel as well – it is definitely not always smooth sailing but it will definitely lead to enhanced self-confidence and awareness when you have to deal with mishaps that come up unexpectedly! And, of course, it is fun and exciting to explore new places as all areas of UK have a distinct vibe – from Manchester to Liverpool to Edinburgh.
One of my favourite excursions with LISS would definitely be our trip to the Yorkshire Dales, which is the trip I was most looking forward to. It absolutely did not disappoint – the social assistants guided us on a trek through the Dales and Bolton Abbey and the views were phenomenal. Coming from Singapore, seeing the wide, open plains and rolling green hills is a literal breath of fresh air!
What made LISS special was of course the people I met – from the lovely social assistants who made us so feel so welcome from the start, to my module classmates and flatmates. Being open-minded and receptive to new experiences made it really easy to make new friends through the numerous social activities and excursions! I really learnt so much about different people and cultures from a whole range of countries.
I am so glad I took the plunge to go for summer exchange as I’ve felt so much growth and gained so many new perspectives just from this month abroad. If you are considering joining LISS, don’t hesitate!