My name is Anne Eloi, and I participated in the Bioscience Breakthroughs in Germany program. Through my study abroad experience in Berlin, I was able to see science and innovation in a way that felt real, practical, and possible.

Studying abroad is important because it widens your perspective. It pushes you to look at life from an angle you may have never considered before. It also allows you to learn beyond a classroom by gaining hands-on experiences, meeting new people, and seeing how knowledge is applied in the real world. My study abroad experience in Germany reminded me of this in a powerful way.

For a long time, I have wanted to become a great scientist. I wanted to contribute to discoveries that could help people and create meaningful change. However, that dream sometimes felt unrealistic. It felt too big, too far away, and almost impossible to reach. At times, I wondered if it was a dream I needed to let go of. But my trip to Germany reawakened that dream in me.

During this experience, I began to understand in a more concrete way how science works. I learned that scientific progress is not just about one discovery in a laboratory. It is also about the long process of testing ideas, learning from failure, building the right team, finding support, understanding the market, and turning research into something that can actually improve people’s lives. We learned about important scientific discoveries, including the polio vaccine, and discussed both the failures and successes that shaped innovation. These stories helped me see that science is not always a straight path. It requires patience, courage, and persistence.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was meeting scientists, biotech leaders, startup founders, and CEOs who are currently doing this work. They explained how they came up with their ideas, how collaboration played a crucial role in their success, and how they learned to see problems as opportunities. Hearing from people like Dr. Sahel and visiting biolabs, bioengineering spaces, and biotech startups helped me imagine myself in those spaces too. It made science feel less distant and more possible.

This experience also showed me that innovation is not only about having a perfect idea. It is about being willing to ask questions, solve real problems, and keep going even when the process is difficult. I know I still have a long way to go, but studying abroad in Germany helped me believe again that I can be part of scientific discovery and innovation. More importantly, it taught me that big dreams can become real when they are supported by curiosity, hard work, and opportunity.