Meet Dae’onii Robinson, a third-year political science major with minors in pre-law and paralegal studies at Kent State University.
This summer she traveled to Rwanda to study abroad, which was her second time participating in one of the college’s education abroad programs. Her first trip took her to Mexico. Both journeys opened the door to some incredible opportunities, experiences and new perspectives.
Why Study Abroad?
Dae’onii’s decision to study abroad was influenced by the international connections made through Sarah Schmidt, Ph.D. from the Department of Political Science. She chose the Mexico and Rwanda programs specifically for the positive impact that the university has made in those areas and the opportunities for hands-on research. The Mexico program focused on political science, while the Rwanda program explored peace and conflict. Both lined up perfectly with her career path and gave her real field experience.
Stories from the Field
Both programs dove deep into cultural issues. According to Dae’onii, her favorite part of the Rwanda program was visiting local villages and interviewing community members about the 1994 genocide. She spoke with survivors as well as perpetrators who had gone through the prison system and were hoping to re-enter society. In Mexico, she got to learn about Chinampas, an Aztec method of farming, and worked alongside local farmers to help preserve a culture at risk of fading away.
A Life-Changing Experience
Both experiences had a powerful impact on Dae’onii, who walked away with a deeper understanding of these two cultures and a desire to travel more. Her travels changed the way she views her own knowledge and experiences and now believes that one can never truly learn enough.
“It’s truly life-changing,” Dae’onii shared. “I think doing it gives me a differing perspective, especially being immersed in different cultures...you realize that everyone's an expert in their own space.”
Looking Ahead
Through both programs, Dae'onii had the chance to take part in PhD-level research that fit right in with her professional goals. She plans to go into politics, and studying democracies around the world has given her a fresh perspective on democracy in America. She believes that understanding different systems of government could help build a better society for everyone. Her research has even shaped her next steps: she's now planning to pursue a master's degree in public administration.
Advice for Future Travelers
When asked what advice she would give to students thinking about studying abroad, Dae’onii encouraged anybody considering Kent State’s education abroad programs to go for it and emphasized the availability of scholarships that go underutilized. In fact, with the help of scholarships, she was able to get both of her trips fully funded!
“I would say just absolutely go for it,” said Dae’onii. “I think that there's never a point in your life where you're going to want to travel this much or do it again. If there's any point you should do it, do it now.”
