BAFTX has long known about the benefits of studying overseas. The exposure to a different culture, different mindset, different theories, different ways of presenting information and encouraging curiosity and research, even the opportunity to get on an airplane and be responsible for one’s own destination are all game changers, particularly for underprivileged young people. We know our BAFTX scholars return from overseas more confident, more mature, more independent, and ready to complete their study with renewed enthusiasm and energy.
However, this year, COVID-19 had different plans for the BAFTX overseas study program.
Our Junior Achiever students were unable to spend their 2 weeks in London. Having raised enough funds to expand this program to ten high school juniors rather than our usual six, and having selected and met our scholars and their families, explained what air travel was like, how cars in the UK drive on the other side of the road and that electrical sockets are different, we were devastated to have to cancel this program. Our 2020 Junior Achievers will not have this opportunity next year as the program is only open to high school juniors. The scholars we selected are brilliant and gifted young people and we are confident that they will be selected for other programs and accolades as their careers progress, but their disappointment was palpable.
Our students from Texas A&M studying in Swansea were also caught up in the early days of COVID-19 and had to cut short their studies at Swansea University to return home. They did manage to experience life at a British university and saw the benefit of working across international borders:
“[The semester overseas] really made me see the collective benefit that we could gain from having a better understanding of how the academics of another country work, especially within subjects of medical engineering with this current situation. There's a lot to gain from having a better mutual understanding of each other when it comes to how we approach conflicts in medicine and public health. And it's really made me excited to join industries like the ones at the forefront of vaccines and treatments for the virus.”
Esteban Ramirez, Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, Phillips 66 scholar 2020
Other students have had to innovate to benefit from their semester abroad, sponsored by BAFTX. Tyree “Equiano” Jackson is undertaking his semester abroad at Edinburgh University virtually. Although he won’t get to experience the lochs and glens of Scotland this year, he will benefit from tuition, insight and research from one of the UK’s top colleges and remains philosophical:
“After months of coaxing myself to study abroad and planning to make the trip to Scotland this fall, I was gravely disappointed to have to cancel that trip. I had so many plans to travel Europe and photograph my trip for many memories to remember. I now will be staying here in Texas to study abroad virtually. I never thought it would come to this but I still wanted the experience of learning with a different instructional style and also take classes I wouldn’t be able to at my home university. I know this is a first for everyone including the many organizers and university staff members that have been assisting me to make this possible. This experience has required so much patience and determination, but despite everything I want to make this best out of this opportunity!”
Tyree “Equiano” Jackson, Computer Science, University of Texas, Vantage Drilling scholar 2020
However, we have had some success with a British student in Texas this Fall, undertaking a postgraduate course at Texas A&M. Defying the odds, Kelechi Ukaegbu, who is sponsored by Anderson Anderson and Brown in Aberdeen, UK, obtained a student visa for the USA and a flight from London to start her course.
“So far my time in Texas has been very good! I am really enjoying being on campus and clinics. I cannot wait to explore more of Dallas! COVID did cause some disruption at the very start of the course but the faculty at TAMU were very helpful and understanding.”
Kelechi Ukaegbu, Periodontics, Texas A&M University, Anderson Anderson & Brown scholar 2020
While COVID-19 has certainly tested us with respect to scholarships and overseas study, BAFTX has been able to pivot and support its scholars through online and in person overseas study where possible. We hope that we can bring the live-changing benefits of international experience to underprivileged scholars in years to come.