Wouter van Bodegraven
The opportunity to come to the U.S. and attend an institution like Columbia University for my Master’s degree, focused on Climate Politics and Economics, is something I never personally held possible, or even thought about for that matter. Imagine my surprise when I got the admissions letter, together with the Fulbright acceptance letter, in my mailbox. Especially as a former MBO student, it is in many ways a dream that came true against all expectations. Coming to New York has proven to be a life-changing experience, and studying at Columbia has broadened both my global perspective as well as providing me with many new friends from around the world.
Going to New York to study was definitely somewhat of a herculean task. Life at Columbia University is very demanding, and its quite easy to spend all of your time studying in order to keep up. On top of that, you’re also in New York, which is very easy to forget at times. But spending close to a year in the metropolis, I slowly adjusted and got used to the New Yorker lifestyle, which is definitely high paced. In many ways, it reminded me of the Netherlands too, people here tend to be very straightforward in their mannerisms and make sure to ‘stick to their lanes’. This is especially true in Manhattan.
Life at the University itself, located in the Upper West Side, is quite different. Entering campus can feel like an oasis. There is a lot of green space, and the buildings are absolutely stunning, although you can always hear sirens in the distance to remind you of the wider area the university exists in, which is in many ways a big advantage. As a Fulbright and Ivy league student in New York, you have a lot of access to places that would otherwise be hard to go to. Over the year, I had the opportunity to talk to the Dutch Consul General in New York, as well as visit many UN officials to discuss my research, and I met the EU ambassador to the UN on more than one occasion.
Next to meeting all these people, the classes themselves are taught by equally impressive individuals. Especially a class I followed in conflict resolution, taught by two part-time professors who spend most of their time at the UN still practicing their field, will stay with me. The insights they provided into current peacekeeping operations, former negotiations and many more stories from behind the scenes really do provide a level of firsthand practical knowledge that I’ve never experienced before. As a Fulbright student in New York, you furthermore get the unique experience of being invited to many events, and I spent much time in museums, concerts or theaters free of admission costs. Especially as it is New York City, its hard to ever be bored of all the things available to you.
Next to life in New York, I furthermore got the opportunity to take part in the Fulbright Enrichment Seminar in Seattle, Washington, where I met Fulbrighters from all over the world, and it allowed me to visit the West Coast! Taking part in the Fulbright program at Columbia University has been one of the highlights of my life so far. I would not have been able to go without the support of Fulbright. To anyone that is reading through this and is considering applying, I can only say go for it!
