Jasmine Paul ’18

What made you want to study outside of the US? 

I grew up in the midwestern suburbs of the US, thinking that maybe New York City would be the biggest, furthest place I could go to meet new people, have new experiences, and figure out who I wanted to be. When I found AUP, my world got a whole lot bigger! I knew that studying at AUP was a rare opportunity. Many AUP students come from an international background where it's the norm to jet from country to country. I didn't grow up with that, but I got a taste of it living abroad – a privilege that not many people can afford. 

Were there challenges to living abroad? 

Living abroad was an amazing experience, but it wasn't a walk in the park. The lessons I learned at AUP will stay with me and guide me for the rest of my life. Lessons in the classroom may have gotten me my degree, but the lessons outside of the classroom – from classmates, professors and staff, as well as events in Paris and travels abroad – have taught me more than I could've learned anywhere else. The confidence of knowing that I moved abroad aged 17 and, with an invaluable support system, made the most out of my time in France, made me feel prepared for what came next. 

How do you view your time at AUP now you’ve graduated? 

When I think of AUP, a million beautiful memories come to mind, but, above all, there’s the feeling of community that I found there. I was granted a generous scholarship, without which I wouldn't have been able to study at AUP. My goal was to make the most out of my time at the University – both for my sake and for the sake of the community around me. My involvement in student clubs working with Syrian refugees, in student government, in Cultural Program study trips, in the Ecole de Guerre Practicum – these activities, and others, shaped who I am today. I use the skills and knowledge that I acquired at AUP in my daily life, and I often think about how a million little moments brought me to this point.