During my semester Richmond American University, London, I am taking four courses: FinTech, History of Fashion, Human Computer Interaction, and Organizational Behavior. Compared to my recent semesters, these different courses engaged in unique ways than simply taking only business courses. In the classroom, I’ve had the chance to interact with a variety of other study abroad students where I get to learn from their personal background.

For example, my Human Computer Interaction course emphasizes the human experience and usability in designing technology devices and products. I’ve been learning how these design principles are embedded in our everyday objects such as a staircase and even a push/pull sign. As a BIS major, this offers a creative and subjective perspective between users and systems, allowing me to understand technical use cases more critically. 

In the academic environment, the classes in Richmond emphasize discussion and immersive learning rather than lectures and PowerPoint. Throughout my time at Richmond, I find that being more present in discussions and voicing my thoughts offers an engaging way to learn. I also find that the small class sizes help make these lectures feel more engaging, as you are much more visible to other students and the professor. 

My FinTech class for example is heavily based on discussions, where we focus on real life application of FinTech and its impact on financial services. Much of our case study discussions are formed on our personal observations and opinions.  For example, students may be asked to justify their responses, give a counter perspective, or try to interpret the “why” behind a decision. The class forces me to think on my feet and be much more present with my classmates.

I also enjoy my History of Fashion Class, where I once took a trip into the Victoria and Albert Museum for a class assignment. Having opportunities to be outside the classroom truly feels much more memorable and immersive. By seeing real life objects and artifacts, it adds a new depth of our learning about historical fashion objects of dress

 Having classes only 3 days in my week, I also enjoy spending my time outside in the city exploring other museums and even finding new places to study.  Being in the city of London and observing its rich history, I really appreciate its diversity and lively atmosphere. Overall, London has been such an amazing place for study abroad, and I continuously find new things to enjoy and appreciate.