Delaney Walden, CEA CAPA Sydney, Summer 2026
As a Political Science student at the University of Pittsburgh, I went into my study abroad program already interested in politics, public policy, law, and international issues. Living and studying in Sydney strengthened those interests because it gave me the opportunity to learn about many of the same topics I study at Pitt from outside of the United States. One of the most valuable parts of studying abroad was seeing how much location can change the way you understand an academic subject. In Sydney, my coursework focused heavily on the city itself. We discussed issues such as sustainability, urban development, housing, climate risks, and the ways cities respond to social and environmental challenges. Instead of discussing these topics only through readings or lectures, we were able to explore Sydney and see examples of them in person.
For one of my major research assignments, I studied the environmental impacts of bushfires in New South Wales. Researching the Black Summer bushfires while actually living in Australia made the topic feel much more immediate. It encouraged me to think about the connections between environmental issues, government policy, emergency management, and the communities affected by political decisions. Experiences like this reminded me why I am interested in public policy in the first place. Policies can seem abstract when they are discussed in a classroom, but their effects are very real for the people living under them. Studying abroad also strengthened my interest in eventually pursuing law and working in a field where I can analyze complicated problems. My political science courses have taught me to think critically about institutions and government, while studying in another country challenged me to consider how those institutions can look different across political and cultural settings. Australia gave me another point of comparison for thinking about the United States and made me more interested in gaining international experience in the future.
Personally, the experience also gave me more confidence in my ability to enter an unfamiliar environment and adapt. Moving across the world for a program requires you to make decisions independently, meet new people, navigate a new city, and become comfortable being outside of your normal routine. Those are skills that I know will be valuable in law school, future internships, and eventually my career. My study abroad experience did not completely change the goals I had before leaving for Sydney. Instead, it made those goals feel more developed and personal. I returned to Pitt with a greater interest in international perspectives, a stronger appreciation for experiential learning, and more confidence in pursuing opportunities that push me outside of what is comfortable.
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