My experience studying in London during the Summer of 2026 was nothing short of mind-blowing. Growing up in Arkansas, I was accustomed to operating within a relatively small population density, even living in Little Rock, the state’s capitol. Attending Wabash was a continuation of that trend. Wabash is a school that prides itself on its small, tight-knit community, and living on campus often feels like living in a local neighborhood.
Needless to say, this was not the case in London. Living in the city exposed me to an entirely different way of life than I was accustomed to, one that has you traversing a seemingly endless maze of street corners and century-old buildings on any given afternoon.
During my time in London, I took a contemporary photography course. We would visit galleries around London each class period, and each time, I would gain a wider breadth of knowledge about the art form and the history behind many of these photos.
One day, we visited The National Gallery, one of the city’s oldest and most prominent art museums. Upon entering the building, I lost myself in the spacious exhibits, each filled with beautiful art. Every piece was a cloth in the patchwork of the United Kingdom’s- and the world’s- shared cultural history. By the time I checked my watch, it had been two hours, and I desperately needed to escape my enthrallment and eat dinner.
I stepped out of the museum and began walking in a random direction; I figured I would find a subway station eventually. What I found instead was an entirely unfamiliar skyline compared to what I was accustomed to after living nearly three weeks in London already. I stumbled upon a great view of an entirely different portion of the city than I was accustomed to-something unfamiliar.
As I peered over the bridge at the glistening skyscrapers occupying the horizon, reality sank in. The London I thought I knew, the city I had struggled with for weeks to navigate and immerse myself in, was only a small piece of a bigger pie. The experience put into perspective how limited the scope of our lives and understanding can be if we don’t heed adventure when it calls us. From photography collections to breathtaking views of places unknown, there are always broader horizons ahead.
I would like to extend thanks to the Rudolph Family for providing me with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Nothing is more eye-opening than traveling to a foreign country and jumping headfirst into it- its people, places, and culture. Without the Rudolph Scholarship, many Wabash Men, including myself, would not be the men they are today.
