Domestic Exchange Student Reflections
Loyola Marymount University
Having grown up in Southern California, I thought I knew everything about Los Angeles and what its schools have to offer. After my first month at Loyola Marymount University, however, I can confidently say that I did not. Los Angeles is home to a very unique and eclectic mix of individuals, and it is also common ground for individuals from virtually all cultures and walks of life. At the beginning, it was somewhat difficult for me to place myself within a context of such heterogeneity; however, LMU has created a space where my experiences are valued and appreciated.
This experience has afforded me an opportunity to connect with students from all over the country and the world. I have learned a lot about a wide-range of things from the variety of food items sold in a Thai street market to annual science days in North Carolina. It has been rewarding to learn about other cultures while still maintaining my identity as a black woman. Engaging in conversations with people across the world about a variety of topics including race and politics, has been enlightening because it is a direct application of what Spelman teaches students about global citizenship.
Academically, I learned some things never change – being a math major is difficult everywhere you go. However, it is especially comforting to be in an environment where students work collaboratively and support each other. It is very easy to get lost in classes like “Real Variable Analysis” and “Fundamental Concepts of Geometry,” but I was surprised that the same support system comprised of students and professors that I have at LMU is very similar to the support system I have at Spelman.
I have also been given the opportunity to become a member of LMU's associate professor of biology Dr. Kam Dahlquist’s lab focused on creating a mathematical model for the cold-shock response in yeast. The fact that LMU is in such close proximity to schools like USC, UCLA and the California Institute of Technology; and that my lab is able to collaborate with labs at these schools, only reinforces the idea that participating in domestic exchange this semester was the best choice for me.
In all, LMU and Los Angeles have a lot to offer everyone, and I am thankful for this experience. I cannot wait to bring more of the tools I have learned at Spelman to LMU, and I will continue to share my experience with my Spelman sisters.
