Tufts International Relations program was truly a life-changing experience. The program was only two weeks; however, it truly felt like a whole semester with the amount we covered and the various experiences I went through. I had known for a while that I wanted to go into the realm of politics for a career and decided to do the program to get a preview of what an IR degree would entail.
We would start every day with our language classes, and I chose to take Russian as it is an important language in the political realm. Each class was jam-packed with material as we had two weeks to grasp the basics, and while it was challenging, it was rewarding. Our professor showed immense care for the students and shared her love for Russian culture, showing us traditional and modern movies and music so we could better understand the language. It was a lot of work both in class and outside of it but I came out of the program being able to understand and speak basic Russian.
After lunch, we had lectures from various professors on various topics. They were all experts in their field and gave us a solid basis on each topic. I came out of each lecture feeling prepared to return to school and answer questions about it. All the professors were amiable and engaging and were happy to answer your questions. I don’t believe there was a single time I felt bored or needed to do anything on my computer other than take notes. We also had the chance to pretend we were senators and debate on a resolution, which I found excellent to practice my public speaking and to get a taste of that job path.
One of my favorite parts of the day was the TA sections. My TA was so welcoming and sweet and by the end of the two weeks, I felt very connected with her and comfortable in the environment she created. We had many activities, from a mock trial to presentations, and I enjoyed it. I could freely discuss and debate my political thoughts, which I can’t always do because people don’t want to talk about politics. I became close with everyone in my discussion and while at times it was severe, there were also a lot of laughs and smiles.
I formed so many close connections with people at Tufts, both in the IR program and from other programs. Between deep talk while getting ready in the bathroom, running around Boston trying new foods, late night walks on campus jamming to music, trying to do homework in the commons but ending up playing cup pong instead, and dominating a lip sync battle challenge, I formed tight friendships that will last years to come. I believe that what makes the Tufts summer program such a fantastic experience is the people, and I left the program feeling excited about my future and ready to go to university.
