Laura Anderson did not originally plan to attend the University of Notre Dame, but a change in her plans led her to accept the invitation to be a member of the class of 2016. Once she moved into Notre Dame for Frosh-O, however, she realized she didn’t want to leave. The traditions at Notre Dame were so unique, and the opportunities offered were so special, Laura couldn’t imagine going anywhere else. She participates in a wide variety of clubs and organizations on campus, including working at Irish Gardens (her favorite place at ND) and working with Global Medical Brigades. Her love for others, friendliness, willingness to try new things, and diligence all make her a fantastic representation of what Notre Dame students strive to be.
So you just got back from study abroad in London! How was the experience?
Honestly amazing!! I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to live in London for six weeks. I didn’t think I was going to be able to study abroad because of my pre-med major, so the summer program was a great option and it ended up being the perfect amount of time abroad. I made amazing friends and incredible memories in addition to taking two excellent classes, so it was definitely a great way to get the study abroad experience!
Did you travel to other places during your time abroad?
Yes, I went to Dublin for four days and Paris for a weekend, too! Both places were lovely and I’m glad I had a chance to visit. Ireland was gorgeous and I spent the majority of the weekend exploring the west coast. I was also able to stock up on some legit Irish gear to deck out my dorm room! In addition to the two weekend trips, I also did a few day trips to places in England, like Oxford, Bath, and Stonehenge, so I really took advantage of living so close to historic cities and landmarks.
What was your favorite experience during your time abroad?
When I was on the train to Paris, two little French girls were sitting across from me and after a half hour of them whispering to each other, one girl pulled out a pack of Uno cards and motioned for me to join in a game with their friends. Before I knew it, I was playing cards with seven little 10-year olds who didn’t speak a word of English…and it’s safe to say my French was less than stellar! Despite the language barrier, I played with them for two hours and by the time the train arrived in Paris, they were hugging and kissing Mademoiselle Laura goodbye, thanking me for being their new friend! Although the experience was fleeting and not a typical study abroad story, it taught me that although language barriers can cause some challenges, a smile and a laugh are truly universal.
What advice do you have for someone studying in London this fall?
Go out and do things every single day! Your time abroad is limited and you want to take advantage of as much as you can so you don’t leave wishing you had done more. It’s far too easy to get into a routine of getting up, going to class, and crashing in your flat for the rest of the day. Keep telling yourself to go out and check things off of your to-do list. Oh, and don’t be afraid to be a little touristy! It’s so cool to be able to say you’ve lived in a foreign country, but it’s just as cool to say you visited the Palace, enjoyed high tea, and took a thousand red phone booth pictures. I would also tell students studying abroad to take things in stride. You never know when you’ll be stuck in the middle of an unfamiliar city or a random suburb (I’m looking at you, Vigneux-sur-Seine) at 2 am when you don’t know where you’re going or enough of the language to ask people for help. Just know that you will make it out alive, and you’ll probably end up with an awesome story to tell in the process.
What are your summer plans?
I’m going to spend the rest of my summer catching up with my family and spending as much time at the beach as possible!!
What are you most looking forward to in the fall?
Stadium pushups! But actually.
Are you excited to be a junior this year?
So excited! I get to impart my wisdom on the underclassmen and show them what life at ND is all about. It will be nice to delve deeper into my field of study and continue to work hard, but it’s definitely bittersweet knowing my time at Notre Dame is halfway over.
What are you most grateful for as Notre Dame student?
It sounds cliché, but the Notre Dame family truly is one of the most incredible things about being a student at ND. I love the high-fives and smiles I get walking around random airports all over the country, and hearing shouts of “Go Irish!” when people see my ND gear never gets old. The worldliness of Notre Dame is pretty amazing as well. Not many schools are so well known that you can tell someone from a different country where you attend college and their response is an enthusiastic “wow!” I’ve had an amazing two years so far, and I really am “Proud to be ND!”
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Images curtesy of the interviewee