This past summer, I had the pleasure of studying abroad at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland. The idea of studying abroad had never really crossed my mind until the beginning of my junior year. But after a lot of thinking and hearing about the Rudolph Scholarship, I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity. I am happy to say that I am certain I made the right choice.

During my time in Ireland, I studied criminal law and terrorism, focusing on the differences between the judicial systems of the United States and Ireland, as well as the lasting conflict between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Although I am extremely grateful for my education during my time abroad, it was my personal experiences while travelling that really changed my life. I was able to travel to cities and islands all across Ireland, spending lots of my time learning about the history of where I was and the people that I met. Being able to travel through cities such as Limerick, Dublin, Cork, Galway, and the Aran Islands is something I will never forget. Though I could write forever about my time in each of these places, there was one experience that I have thought about since.

Waking up at six in the morning to take a two-hour bus ride followed by a 30 minute ferry may not seem like a peaceful start to the day, but sometimes it’s worth it. It’s worth it for the Aran Islands. Inisheer is the smallest of the three islands with a population of about 350, but I’ve never interacted with a more knitted, welcoming community. You would think such a small, peaceful island would dread seeing that ferry on the horizon everyday, but to my surprise, their hospitality was gratifying. The first thing that caught my attention once I stepped onto the island was what appeared to be a stray dog running on the beach. He did not have a collar, he did not answer to an owner, and he roamed freely. I asked the man who owned the island coffee shop who the dog belonged to. He replied, “the island.” That was about the last question I was able to ask him as he was very intrigued to get to know each of my friends. Though it’s a short and simple way to put it, I think that sums up the people of Inisheer better than anything. His friend just outside of the shop offered us bicycles to roam around the island, and of course, we accepted. As we travelled the island I was stunned by the beautiful views of the Atlantic, the cattle that almost outnumbered the people, and the spirit of all of the locals. From the in-depth conversations to the simple greetings along the street, I felt the warmth of the community the entire time. Every conversation felt so organic that I almost forgot I was just a visitor.

As we explored the island, I met a man who had recently moved to the island a year prior. Out of curiosity, I asked if he ever felt a sense of disapproval from the people of the island. He told me that he feels like he has lived there his entire life. If there is any “life lesson” I took away from my time abroad, it was that. The peace and embrace within the community is something I’ve never felt anywhere else and have since strived to promote. Though the freshly caught fish and chips with a cold pint of Irish Guinness was also fantastic, I hope that everyone is able to experience the feeling I felt on that Island some day.

I would like to share a huge thank you to the Rudolph Family for giving me the opportunity to experience my time abroad. It truly would not have been made possible without their consistent, generous contributions to the students of the college. I cannot express my gratitude nearly enough. These opportunities are once in a lifetime and the Rudolph family made it possible for me and so many other students. If I could offer one final piece of advice, if you have any inclination to study abroad, do it.