I had the good fortune of realizing a yearlong exchange program at SciencesPo’s Reims Campus. I never thought I would be able to attend the university where Emmanuel Macron got his Masters! During my year abroad, I completed a certificate in Business and Economics my first semester. My second semester was cut short due to the pandemic; however, I was still able to finish my classes via zoom back home here in the States. While living abroad I was also able to visit Portugal, Czech Republic, and Ireland.

During my time at SciencesPo I was able to be a partake in many events and activities aimed at expanding my network. I learned so many indispensable life lessons and met so many interesting people. The university is well-known for cultivating future leaders and getting to know my fellow peers was a lovely experience. I even met friends from just about every continent that I’m certain I will stay in touch with for life. During my second semester, I became the head of the culture pole for a student led organization called the Association for Latin American Solidariy (ALAS). Since I identify as Cuban-American, I engaged with members of this organization my very first week in Reims and immediately became very involved. After having a taste of the French academic experience, I prefer the American grading system. However, one thing I really enjoyed about the French university system was the preparation it demanded of you. Most of my classes required some sort of oral presentation or exposé as a major component of the curriculum. I found this to be a good way of ensuring I was following along with the subject matter. Studying at SciencesPo also allowed me the opportunity to meet many well-established professors.

As far as my experience outside of the classroom goes, I absolutely loved Reims. It is a small, quaint, and walkable city. I was able to get to know the city center really well and even explore some of the local parks. My favorite part of the city was none other than the Cathedral of Reims, it’s even bigger than the one in Paris. My fondest memory abroad was at the Christmas Market during a light show projected on the front of the Cathedral. It was truly breathtaking. Reims is a city full of history, almost all the coronations of French Kings were held there.