In spring 2011, Harleen Jassal was searching for a challenge.
A sophomore psychology major, Jassal was looking to turn her college experience on its head and applied to the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship Program to study the Punjabi language in Chandigarh, India, a city and union territory straddling the provincial border between the Punjab and Haryana states.
Evan Novalis, a senior double majoring in global affairs and Russian and Eurasian studies, wanted to further his knowledge of the Russian language and region. Having already studied in Russia once, he was vying for the National Security Education Program’s prestigious Boren Scholarship to pursue his academic goals in Kyrgyzstan.
Fast forward to spring 2012. Both Jassal and Novalis retain fresh and vivid memories from their time overseas.
The trip to Chandigarh meshed well with Jassal’s ambitions. She plans to obtain a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, and then use her education and experience to serve female trauma victims from international populations, especially those from south Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds.
While in Chandigarh, Jassal studied the Punjabi language intensively. Having never studied abroad before, Jassal found the hustle and bustle of India challenging at first, but she came to embrace the situation and learn from it. By the end of her stay, the trip overseas turned into one very precious component of her educational career.
“Even though I’ve been to the Punjab region before, I was with family and in a very sheltered environment, so naturally it was a completely different experience,” Jassal says. “This time, it was absolutely exhilarating to see things on my own and with those I studied with. Also, being in a new environment and being completely on my own taught me so much about myself and helped me envision what I want out of my life.”
Looking to narrow his educational and career goals as well, Novalis first became interested in the Russian language and central Asian politics while a student at Mason. Exploring and discussing the region throughout his classes, he decided he wanted to learn more about it.
“I learned about the region, and I instantly got attached,” Novalis says. “I felt like it would be a great personal and career endeavor to try and dedicate myself to understanding this region.”
Having carved out an academic niche of expertise for himself, Novalis traveled to the region to gain firsthand language experience and hear directly from the people about the culture and history of Kyrgyzstan and its surrounding states. By talking to citizens of the country, he was able to learn, not only about the culture, but more about the antigovernment riots that engulfed the region in 2010 and the violent interethnic conflict between the Kyrgyz and the Uzbeks later on that year.
“I wanted to see more than just the capital, Bishkek, where I was staying,” Novalis says. “I wanted to explore the country and get to know all of its intricacies. So, I did. I studied the border situation and the history between the people of Kyrgyzstan and the Soviets. I even traveled to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and all throughout Kyrgyzstan.”
The full-on immersion of studying abroad was challenging, but nothing Jassal or Novalis couldn’t handle.
Jassal actually came to welcome the challenges, naming them specifically as the highlights of her trip. Before traveling to Chandigarh, her language skills were barely enough to communicate with others, and she could only express complex thoughts by using English. In addition, she was in an unfamiliar environment, with only her new language skills to guide her.
Not a problem. Jassal began to learn and understand the Punjabi language and being in India helped her learn to speak more fluently.
“Without cultural immersion, it is difficult to learn a language,” Jassal says. “Previously, I could not express myself or read literature in Punjabi, and my writing was very poor. I still don’t have flawless speaking or writing skills, but my comprehension has improved tremendously.”
Novalis says regular trips to the store were a challenge. But he says any opportunity to overcome educational obstacles is a good thing, and study-abroad trips are full of them.
“The context of studying abroad is very challenging and time consuming,” Novalis says. “But studying abroad gives you practice and makes the language a part of you.”
For now, Jassal plans to pursue her academic goals and will welcome another study-abroad opportunity if it comes her way. Eventually, she would like to work with a nonprofit organization, such as Doctors Without Borders. Novalis would like to pursue a career in international relations with a government department. He plans to apply to graduate school to study international relations.
LaNitra Berger, fellowships director for the Honors College, believes that Jassal and Novalis have set themselves apart when it comes to finding opportunities. The combination of their academic prowess with their gutsy decision making and experience overseas will help employers and graduate schools gain more insight about them.
“Because the vast majority of students do not study abroad during their academic careers, one such experience instantly makes you stand out from other students,” Berger says. “In addition to teaching foreign language skills, studying abroad shows that you are able to take calculated risks, think creatively, and thrive outside your comfort zone.”
Jassal and Novalis have proven they can thrive. And they would gladly tell you that in their newest languages.
July 16, 2012
