#SummerAbroad: Bhumika Mittal

Studying abroad is something I’ve always looked forward to in my college journey. This summer, I took part in the Hatchery Entrepreneurship Programme at Lehigh University, aided by the Office of Global Education and Strategic Programmes (GESP) at Ashoka University. The programme is an immersive six-week boot camp aimed at equipping students with solution-oriented learning and inculcating an entrepreneurial mindset through the application of creative design thinking methods. 

My time at Ashoka University prepared me for this experience. The teaching style, the open environment of learning through questioning, and a flexible course pedagogy at Lehigh were reminiscent of Ashoka University. Both the universities believe in propagating a learning mechanism that exists not only within the classroom but also extends beyond it. 

Ashoka University has been an incredible place for me. Having moved here from Jaipur, college was surprising, shocking, and fun. One of the key reasons I applied here was the GESP. Its student-facing interactive and engaging approach drew me towards it in specific and towards the University in general. When I started applying for the Hatchery Programme, I enlisted the help of GESP and they were more than willing to assist me throughout the process. From answering my endless questions about the programme to getting me acquainted with the various aspects of the university and the country (the culture, the college, the transportation- you name it), the Office, especially Dean Shastri, truly went above and beyond their capacities to ensure that I had all the necessary information to make the most of my experience there. 

My summer abroad at Lehigh might be ending right now, but I know the friends, experiences, and memories I gained while here will last me a lifetime.