Deanna Hobbs’s Story- Holden Village

Political Science (Genocide Studies Minor)- Class of 2020

What she would like other students to know:
Even though I participated in a domestic study away program, I still learned so much about myself, the community around me, and the world. Immersion learning doesn’t need to happen somewhere across the globe, it can happen in your own backyard. Being in the Cascades for a month with no access to cell service really challenged me to look at what I value in life and how modern social expectations inhibit me from achieving my own standard of happiness. Being able to experience intense philosophical conversations while being surrounded by the wilderness helped me to put into perspective how these conversations really effect our communities and environment

A piece of advice to future study away students:
Challenge yourself to pack less — once you return home you will be impressed with how little you really need to survive off of. Take advantage of domestic J-Term study away opportunities, especially if you don’t think you will be able to fit in a full semester study away.

What surprised her about studying away:
When studying away I was surprised at how close you become with your classmates. You really create a community for yourselves and always have built in friends to turn to.

Deanna Hobbs
Holden Village during J-Term 2018, Sipping Holden loose leaf tea in the snow