My name is Sophia Karmanos, and I’m a born and raised Michigander. I’m from the city of Birmingham, located in the southeast of the state and not too far from Detroit. My academic interests are anthropology and sociology, but I’ve also taken an interest in criminal justice and political science. That being said, I’m not quite certain what my major will end up being… Nevertheless, I’m very excited to be a part of UW Rebels and Revolutions! I learned about the program during my admitted student tour of the University of Wisconsin and I was instantly interested. I had studied abroad before for a short period of time and had been searching for another opportunity to do so. It took me as long as it took to read the website to decide to apply, already excited to go before even knowing if I was admitted. Now that I’ve completed the trip, I can confidently say it was the best decision I’ve made in a while.
The program definitely helped me get back in the academic mindset and prepare for my first semester of college, but without a doubt, the best part of the whole experience was simply the traveling itself. I love going to places and getting the chance to be a part of a world that’s so different from the familiar midwestern agenda. Of all the places I’ve been, Ireland was the only one that I could genuinely see myself living in the future. I instantly fell in love with the abundance of culture, the blend of old and new architecture, the endless access to live music and great food, the crazy quirks found on every corner. Art and music play a large role in my life and seeing a world so intertwined with them nearly had me heartbroken when it came time to leave.
Besides the sheer amazement that I felt towards the country, I’ll always be grateful for the ability to see the place on more than just the surface level. Reading the book Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe and discussing the history for hours a day allowed a much different perspective on the city that would be lost to me if I had visited on my own. Thanks so much for the opportunity to be a part of something so new and so great!