Kaitlyn Kushner

This semester, I funded my participation in three classes at the Syracuse University London program with help from the Study Abroad award. Through this financial support, I broadened my academic horizons on various fronts. To begin, I funded my historical and cultural work in HST 464/PSC 464/REL 328: Borders in Flux – Identities and Conflict in Ireland. Furthermore, I investigated international methods of broadcasting through TRF 560: The BBC – Reinventing Public Service Broadcasting. Finally, I paid for my United Kingdom Visa to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime internship with the London-based packaging and development company Braintrust. 

I had a life-changing and eye-opening experience in London all because of the support from the Renée Crown Honors Program. From the field exploration of cultural identity in HST 464, to the deep dive into the history and development of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in TRF 560, and the hands-on learning available to me at my internship at Braintrust, I learned about how passion and curiosity can open doors to future career paths. 

As I continue my academic work and career exploration, I intend to focus my audio-visual studies on the exploration of personal narrative. My work in HST 464 and TRF 560 solidified the importance of authentic storytelling with the intent to share under the notion of public service leadership. Alongside the skills I refined at Braintrust, I feel confident that the work I completed with support from the Honors Program has advanced both my personal and professional abilities.