As my time in Senegal came to a close, I found myself reflecting not just on what I learned academically, but on how much I have changed as a person. The most meaningful lessons I took home didn’t come from the history lessons and long powerpoint presentations. They came from the sweaty bus rides, language…

Something that stood out to me outside of the coursework during my program was how deeply language ties into socioeconomic opportunity. In Senegal, language is not just communication. It can determine access, identity, and mobility. There are 39 languages spoken across the country, but after French colonization in the 19th century, French remains the official…

My “aha” moment never came as a single, sudden realization. From the very first bus ride from the airport to the hotel, I kept telling myself, “You’re in Senegal.” “You’re on a different continent.” “This is not Philadelphia.” But it didn’t quite land. After all, the sky looked the same. The unfinished construction sites looked…

Outside of the coursework in my program, I came to Senegal with the expectations of both personal and professional growth through complete immersion in the culture, language, and community. Before stepping foot at the JFK airport, with butterflies in my stomach, I was ready to welcome every moment of culture shock as opportunities to build…