Trent-in-Ghana Participant 2009-2010
I came to Trent with an interest in studying development. It didn’t take the Professors long to make me realize I had no idea what ‘development’ even meant. Realizing how little I knew was a common theme running through my experience at Trent. Although this might seem counter-productive to an undergraduate degree, this was actually a very important lesson. Trent taught me to think carefully about how we justify our actions abroad and to examine whose interests we’re serving. These lessons were particularly important during my placement in Ghana and internship in Bangladesh. Studying abroad enhanced my learning experience by forcing me to confront difficult issues.
The other fantastic thing about Trent was the highly engaged student body. I didn't have to look far to find ways to get involved in exciting projects. The annual student-run Community Movements Conference is one example. By helping organize the conference I had the privilege of working with an inspiring group of people.
Overall, I am extremely thankful for the education I received at Trent. I came away with a sense of both skepticism and optimism; I think this is a healthy place to start when looking for a way to help out.