By anishag22
My trip to Paris to visit my best friend last weekend was absolutely amazing. We ate the most incredible food (Nutella crepes? Check. Three course fondue? Check.) and visited all the major sites like Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and the Locks of Love Bridge.
As soon as I got back from Paris, I set to work on my two major essays due this coming week. I decided to start with my politics essay about the EU because it seemed the most threatening. As I realized that this assignment is a legitimate research paper, I started to get stressed. It’s understandable - I’ve never had anything graded in this country before.
At GW, I know what to expect and how much effort I need to put in to get my desired grade on the assignment. Obviously I have written essays of this level of difficulty before, but I just don’t know how my work will be assessed. I went to my professor’s office hours and explained my apprehension, and she was extremely helpful. She told me not to worry too much about it and to just keep my arguments clear and back them up with evidence. I’m sticking to that plan, and hopefully it will pay off.
Ironically, my fear of being assessed in another country is broadening my perspective on the international academic system. My classes here at the University of Bristol have been intellectually stimulating and relevant to my studies back home. I’m so glad I took the European Union class because I’ve been able to get an insider’s perspective to how the UK views the EU. I never quite understood the extent of Euroskepticism that exists in this country before coming here. The academic challenges I’ve faced in Bristol thus far have undoubtedly been worth it – I’m learning more and expanding my worldview one day at a time!
Until next time –
Xx, Anisha