Alumni Interview with Patrick Spring

Fun in Dorchester Hall

Patrick Spring
Government and Politics Major
Current graduate student in the School of Public Policy
Hometown: Rochester, NY
GC student from 2010-2012     

Global Communities: What did you do for your Global Experience and how did you select the program?

Patrick Spring: I volunteered at the SEED School of DC as an after school tutor with a couple of my classmates. I was interested in education policy so I wanted to experience the new wave of boarding charter schools. Students live on campus Monday – Friday and the school boasts almost 100% graduation. It was a great way to connect with the community while learning about secondary education.

GC: Describe a typical day on your study abroad experience.

PS: I did a short-term study abroad in Turkey. It was only 3 weeks so there wasn’t really a typical day. We usually woke up early, had a class discussion about the day’s topics, and then traveled to the various locations. I learned more in those three weeks than I could have in an entire year in a classroom at Maryland. I highly recommend non-traditional study abroad locations, like Turkey.

GC: What surprised you about your study abroad location?

PS: I was surprised by how European Istanbul was. While the storied history shows on the face of the city, it felt welcoming. Outside of Istanbul we felt the true feeling of Turkey. The most was when we had overnight stays with host families. I actually discussed the current and past Turkish politics with my family and got the true sense of the local people.  

Notation Ceremony

GC: What kind of impact has GC had on your academic program or career? What “lessons” can students use (e.g. becoming familiar with people from different cultures, etc).

PS: The greatest thing you can learn is everyone on campus, in this country, and around the world has a story. No one’s is better, they’re just different. Take a step back and listen to someone else and you’ll learn something.

GC: What is your favorite memory of Global Communities?

PS: My favorite memory of Global Communities isn’t in the classroom, studying abroad, or really anything academic. My favorite memories are playing FIFA 03 on GameCube in my Dorchester room freshmen year. There was an international student from England so of course we played as our nation’s team. Global Communities is more about learning outside the classroom (at least for me) so these memories are priceless.