Maggie Cielesz

My name is Maggie Cielesz, and I am a junior political science and philosophy double major with a history minor. I am originally from Rockford, IL. I studied abroad at St. Andrews University in St. Andrews, Scotland in the fall of 2023. I studied abroad because I have always thought it is important to push yourself outside your regular sphere of comfort and experience new places and ways of life. Traveling proved to be one of the greatest ways to enhance real-world perspective on life. My biggest takeaway from studying abroad was a greater sense of self. Since I was taken out of my normal life and routine, I was pushed to investigate who I was at my core outside of my environment. I could not be more grateful for such an experience that provoked such special introspective understanding. I am definitely a huge advocate of studying abroad!