James Jackson

“I chose Ramapo because of the smaller class sizes and the beautiful campus. I have lived on campus for two years and I have loved my time here. The class sizes allow for meaningful connections with professors and other students. While the campus is relatively quiet, there are plenty of activities in the area that have made living here exciting. I discovered numerous clubs and organizations that have granted me connections with all of the amazing people involved with Ramapo College.

I also have always been curious about the world beyond the United States, but the pandemic disrupted my plan to travel after my senior year of high school. Nonetheless, I maintained my motivation to explore different regions and cultures during those two long years spent at home. When cases began dropping and governments started lifting travel bans, I immediately started investigating the seemingly endless number of programs offered through the Roukema Center. I have always had a passion for history, so I was delighted to find Arcadia University’s Scottish History Program based in Edinburgh. Despite my concerns about traveling to a different country without knowing anyone in the program, I had an amazing time and formed unforgettable friendships with people from the program. Getting to study Scottish history while living amongst it in Edinburgh was a remarkable experience that far exceeded the hopes I had in high school. The course included trips throughout the country to beautiful, historical buildings and museums, such as Stirling Castle. While I only lived there for a month, my time in Scotland greatly altered my future plans and helped me grow in a way that I never would have if I stayed home. Being hundreds of miles away from any family or friends meant that I had to rely on myself for transportation throughout Europe, financial planning as well as keeping on top of my studies. These requirements brought about higher levels of maturity and decisiveness than I had ever reached. I am excited to encourage others to take the leap of studying abroad through the Global Roadrunners Program so that they can have as transformative of an experience as my own.” – James Jackson ’24 is a History major with a minor in psychology. He has made the Deans List from 2020 to 2022. He is a member of the Alpha Lamdba Delta Honors Society, the Co-President of the Indoor Soccer Club, President of the Basketball Club, a Peer Facilitator and a Student Researcher for the Jane Addams Center.

Program:
Arcadia University – Scottish History