"The value of studying abroad is getting to experience different cultures and having the ability to meet new people that you otherwise would not get to meet in America. At the International Summer School, there were people from all over the world, and going into it, I didn’t know that was going to be the case. It was such a surprise and really interesting. I think that’s the best part about studying abroad...

I actually got to do a poetry workshop with Leontia Flynn, a well-known Irish poet from Belfast. That was really interesting because I had never done a poetry workshop with someone so experienced. Hearing everyone’s different perspectives—not just my peers my own age but also input from people much older than me—was really valuable."

"One of the most incredible aspects of the fellowship was experiencing firsthand the locations Yeats referenced in his poetry. For example, we took a beautiful ferry ride over Lough Gill, where the Lake Isle of Innisfree is located. As we floated across the water, we read "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" aloud and gazed at the landscape Yeats likely had in mind while writing it. This kind of immersive experience made the fellowship truly special, as it allowed us to connect directly with the settings that inspired some of Yeats’ greatest works."