This July, I went on a week and a half trip to the USA, splitting my time between Boston and New York City. Though I had wanted to solo travel for a while, my adventure would not have been possible without the LEAP programme.

My trip started in Boston where I swapped Cambridge, England for Cambridge, Boston. I was lucky to meet with a professor at Harvard University to discuss my dissertation which was a real highlight of my trip. Not only has it provided a valuable guiding point in my research but the conversation left me feeling motivated about my topic. The intensity of weekly essays, reading lists, and coursework deadlines of University life can sometimes make the research process feel procedural. But speaking openly about my topic – the role of digital radicalisation in violence towards women – with a passionate academic connected me back to the purpose of my research. To understand mechanisms behind harm and to contribute to something more grounded than just academia. In addition, spending time in the campus’s grounds and buildings, particularly the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, was a unique experience and fulfilled a life-long, Gilmore Girls inspired, dream of visiting a US Ivy League. The Harvard Student Centre and the Boston public library were my spaces to work and read, masking the life of a true student there. As a Sociology student, this provided the chance to make connections between Cambridge and Harvard University as educational institutions. Having studied elite systems and positional advantage as part of my degree, this was insightful. As with my dissertation, it was a reminder that while theory and structure are important, the value in observation and lived experience should not be underestimated.

The city of Boston itself was vibrant and historic, each stop on the Red Line offering a different experience and landscape – from the red-brick charm of Cambridge to the iconic streets of Beacon Hill. I visited the Harvard Art Museum, the beach in Quincy, the Charles River, explored the Roxbury Cultural District, and ventured to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I ate bagels, took strolls on the coast, and was continuously asked if I was from London – never the UK or England – to which I learned to answer yes. Most evenings I returned to a quiet pier near where I was staying, eating dinner as the sun set over the water, often joined by a surprising number of wild rabbits that made the place feel even more peaceful. By the end of my stay I had fallen for Boston, feeling completely at ease with the pace of the city and surroundings.

On the train from Boston to New York, I saw the countryside, beaches, and lakes of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The diversity of landscapes amazed me, there is so much of the world to see and I now realise that you only come to understand this by travelling. When I arrived in Penn Station, right next to Madison Square Garden, there was a rush of energy, taxis, and evening sun. I immersed myself in the art and fashion opportunities of New York City, visiting the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and thrifting at the Chelsea Flea Market for items to upcycle. A favourite memory was visiting the Jewelry Library where the founder kindly guided me through the collection. Upon eavesdropping on an office conversation I felt inspired by the creativity and motivation of the people working there. It was a space of curiosity where I could explore my own ideas and draw inspiration from others. Focusing on creative pursuits provided a refreshing outlet away from academics, a chance to do something purely for the joy of it.

Throughout my time in New York, I travelled around Manhattan and Brooklyn, getting off the subway here and there, being guided by intrigue rather than a tight schedule. I found this to be freeing, taking walks through Central Park, exploring the shops in Greenwich Village, and stumbling upon markets of fruit, antiques, and vintage items. I tried New York pizza and made my first-ever visit to Target – this was far more exciting than it probably should have been. On my last night, I watched the sunset on Little Island where I reflected on the trip, feeling a newfound capability. Though it was not a very long solo-travel, for myself the trip was a huge milestone in confidence and independence. I learnt that travelling does not have to be limited by my anxiety and it can, amazingly, be fun. This confidence is freeing and has opened possibilities in my mind when thinking beyond graduation.

I am very thankful to everyone at LEAP. The support was incredible and guided me through the entire journey. I look back on this trip as one of my greatest privileges at Pembroke, and will use the lessons it taught me – about resilience, curiosity, and confidence – as I move into my final year and beyond. I returned with a clearer sense of direction for my dissertation and
a quiet confidence in navigating unfamiliar spaces—both academically and personally.