DIS Blog
Summer at DIS: Something for everyone
Natalie (She/her, Vanderbilt University) wasn’t certain what she wanted to do with her summer in 2024. She considered research, jobs, internships, and more before realizing she wanted to try something different by coming abroad.
Now, nearly a year later, Natalie is back at DIS as a semester student and she reflects on the importance of her summer abroad.
“Spending my summer learning about the educational systems in Scandinavia completely changed my path. I was not planning on studying abroad for a semester, but after my three weeks studying these systems, I knew I had to come back.”
I’ve said it before, but I truly never planned on studying abroad.
I always thought the six hour drive from my hometown in Illinois to my school in Nashville, Tennessee was as far as I ever needed to go, but around this time last year, while all my friends were making internship and job plans for the summer, I decided I wanted my summer to look a little different.
I had done the typical research, looking into summer camps, educational policy jobs, and research positions on campus. I even toyed with the possibility of spending my summer nannying. The one thing I had not thought of was boarding a plane to travel over four thousand miles overseas to Scandinavia, but that’s just what I did.
About the blogger
Hi! My name is Natalie and I am a Secondary Education and English major at Vanderbilt University! I studied Child Development and Education in Scandinavia with DIS in Copenhagen.
I spent my summer with DIS in both Stockholm and Copenhagen and fell in love with the cities. I am so excited to be back and I am even more excited to be able to share my journey with you all as a Student Blogger. I love talking about both my summer and spring session experiences with DIS on my blog: https://disdigitaldiaries.wordpress.com/
A lot can change in a year.
Looking back on the sophomore-me who made this life-changing decision, I can see that more than ever. I was timid, a self-proclaimed “homebody” who hated the idea of change.
Still, I had always dreamed of traveling to new places and stepping outside of my comfort zone to push my independence. I loved the idea of spending my summer soaking up new knowledge and expanding my academic perspectives, but I also wanted to dedicate some amount of time away from the classroom, where I spent so much time during the academic year. I wanted to push myself individually and socially.
Basically, I wanted it all. I wanted a summer filled with academics, but not too much. With travel, but also a level of comfort and safety. With friends, but also a new sense of independence. How was I supposed to find one thing that had it all? I didn’t think it was possible.
That is, I didn’t think it was possible until my school sent out a summer study abroad newsletter. I scrolled through the pages listed and landed on DIS. I was instantly intrigued. With Study Tours, mix-and-match summer sessions, and an extensive catalog of courses, Summer at DIS seemed to have something for everyone, and it seemed to have everything for me.
For the self-proclaimed “homebody…”
Study abroad can seem intimidating, with all the “picture-perfect” Instagram posts or Snapchat stories of peers travelling the world on their weekends. One day someone’s in Spain and it seems the very next they’re in London or Estonia or Australia somehow. For someone who loves to fully integrate into one place, this can look daunting, if not terrifying.
Summer at DIS allowed me the perfect combination of pushing myself to travel while still feeling like I had enough time at “home base.” Of course, you have to leave home to study abroad, it’s in the name, but part of studying abroad means fully immersing yourself in the culture and country you visit.
With the option to spend up to nine weeks in one place, spending the summer with DIS in Scandinavia allows you to truly find a home in Stockholm or Copenhagen, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Living with fellow DIS students, you create a community. You can spend your weekends exploring the beautiful city around you and your nights playing card games, watching movies, and building connections. There is something for everyone.
It’s, of course, still true that some of your classmates will be living by the plane or train schedules, but there will always be the option to lie on a couch with your friend Carly for hours at night binging “How I Met Your Mother” or to explore Europe by a slower method—foot—walking hours around the islands of Stockholm with Emmy and Bella.
For the adventure lover…
Of course, study abroad is still about travel, adventure, and new experiences. While the concept of study abroad always includes traveling to a new (or not new) country, Summer at DIS offers an incredibly unique opportunity to spend time studying in not one, not two, but three different countries, if you choose.
During a semester abroad, DIS offers courses in Stockholm and Copenhagen, two beautiful Scandinavian capitals. However, during the summer, students are given the ability to mix-and-match their sessions, meaning you are able to live and study in both locations for at least three weeks. Personally, I was lucky to be able to attend Summer Session Two in Stockholm and Summer Session Three in Copenhagen, giving me the opportunity to experience and fall in love with both cities.
“I knew I wanted to spend my summer challenging myself to learn and grow in new ways. Studying abroad was the perfect way for me to do that.”
Additionally, DIS is unique because of their Study Tours. During Summer Session Two, students are able to spend an entire week in a third country relevant to their academic course. As a Travel Writing student, I spent an incredible week in Croatia learning about the travel writing industry, how to work professionally as a travel writer, and practicing our craft.
With DIS, I was able to visit three new and completely different countries fully included in the program. While I spent my weekends in Scandinavia, I also know of several of my peers who traveled even more on our time off.
For the academic…
While internships and jobs are an incredible way to learn and develop our skills, there is something different about the ability to be in a classroom and be mentored by experienced and skilled professors. DIS professors are just that, with expertise in their fields and a passion for what they teach. I knew I wanted to spend my summer challenging myself to learn and grow in new ways; studying abroad was the perfect way for me to do that.
DIS offers an incredible variety of classes from writing courses to economics to philosophy to photography. As an English and Education major, I enrolled in Travel Writing while in Stockholm and Children in a Multicultural Context in Copenhagen. I was actually originally enrolled in a completely different class in Copenhagen, but DIS was able to work with my to easily switch into a course I decided I was more interested in just three days before the session started. And I was lucky they did, because that class is why I am back in Scandinavia this semester.
Spending my summer learning about the educational systems in Scandinavia completely changed my path. I was not planning on studying abroad for a semester, but after my three weeks studying these systems, I knew I had to come back. Now, I am looking into the possibility of furthering my education in school systems across cultures. Through this experience, I have also made connections with professors from my home institution and educators in my hometown interested in similar fields who have helped me take advantage of more opportunities that interest me.
For the social butterfly…
While it is inherently academic, study abroad does not need to be fully consumed by school. One of the things I loved most about Summer at DIS was the balance between independence and community.
Living with other students in DIS housing provided me with the opportunity to make some of my closest friends, some of whom I am still in contact with (and planning on seeing again this summer)! While we only spent three to six weeks together, the relationships I made while studying abroad at DIS had an immense impact on my summer and my experience.
Additionally, the opportunity to explore a new country is not complete without meeting locals and learning new perspectives.
I had a wonderful time meeting Swedish and Danish people around my age while at coffee shops, workout classes, at the beach, and anywhere else you could expect to be. It can be intimidating at first, but these relationships are so meaningful and eye-opening to a new world of perspectives (and, if they’re nice, they might let you interview them for your education class).
For the indecisive…
Like I said, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my summer. At least, that’s what I thought. In reality I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted it all.
Spending my summer with DIS in Stockholm and Copenhagen gave me this and more. It allowed me to explore new academic fields, make new relationships, push myself beyond my comfort zones, travel the world, and still have time for movie nights in and finding home in Scandinavia.
I could not have imagined a better way to spend my summer. Not only did I, of course, have an amazing time, but I also found new passions and a new path. I can say with certainty that if I had not had the opportunity to study with DIS over the summer, I would still be in Nashville right now, not spending the semester continuing my incredible journey in Scandinavia.
“Spending summer with DIS… allowed me to explore new academic fields, make new relationships, push myself beyond my comfort zones, travel the world, and still have time for movie nights in and finding home in Scandinavia.”
If you, like me, have no idea what you are meant to spent your summer doing, or if you are considering spending it in Scandinavia, I don’t know what I can say besides do it. I promise you will fall in love with something: the cities, the program, the courses (maybe even the people).
You will discover a new passion, a new place, a new path, and in a years time, you, too, will look back on this decision and know that it changed your life.
