The study abroad experience provided by SIT changed my life for the better. When applying, SIT stood out because of their commitment to experiential learning. In this one semester, I felt I had learned more than in my entire academic career at college.

Having the opportunity to critically engage with communities on the ground and actually see real world applications makes concepts and ideas more powerful, instead of a traditional classroom experience. Of course, there are a lot of ethical grey lines to consider for a program that takes students across the world extracting information. SIT does a wonderful job of critically engaging with the privilege of the students to be on a program like IHP, but also spends significant time discussing our role in these communities. My entire worldview has changed, especially when considering the United States role in the world and American imperialism. The nature of a program that focuses on Human Rights is not easy. I have never been so emotionally and physically challenged than in a semester with IHP, because these issues matter and effect real people's lives, and you will see this first hand. Your success on programs like this really does depend on a few variables, particularly your staff and classmates. Spending almost 24/7 with about 25 people can take a toll, but as you are going through this experience together, these people can be your greatest asset. Luckily, I would say the Human Rights program attracts good people, and I had the opportunity to learn from traveling Professor Umud Dalgic, who really cared about learning. The amount of discussions students would have involving material or just the world at large at random dinners or bus rides with each other and professors showed people’s commitment but also SIT’s commitment to finding the best people to be a part of SIT to really enhance your experience. I now have life long friends due to this program, and will most likely be doing another IHP program next fall.

I can say without a doubt that this program changed my life. I went into the program with high expectations and they were surpassed. This is not an immersion program it is a comparative program and therefore it allows students to dive deeper and gain

context to the issues surrounding the universal human rights framework. Although it was not an immersion program through dedicated country staff teams and host families I did feel immersed in each country, and I picked up a little bit of the language in each country as well. I feel a special connection with each place that I went. If you are looking for a rigorous program that will teach you how to appropriately question things, and open your mind to the possibilities for equality- this your program. I could not recommend it higher.