For some, the idea of going to college nearly 4,000 miles away from home might seem terrifying. However, for senior Jada Gil Promlee, she couldn’t be more excited to embrace a new culture and life outside of the United States.
Gil Promlee is planning on studying Molecular and Life Sciences at Utrecht University located in the Netherlands, there she is hoping to specialize in chemistry along with biology.
According to Gil Promlee, this interest of hers was curated in her AP Chemistry class under the guidance of her teacher, Timothy Knittel.
“He definitely played a vital role in my choosing to pursue chemistry and things that involve molecular sciences,” Gil Promlee said. “I know that the university I’m going to specifically has a really good science program and they are known to have good research opportunities.”
According to Knittel, Gil Promlee was notably interested in her final project for her class.
“[She] seemed to be very engaged with the final project in AP Chemistry last year, where she and her partner built a model scale replica of a nuclear power plant within an economy budget constraint
However, when choosing any major, it is important to be interested in the subject long-term. After Gil Promlee knew what she wanted to major in, she started looking more into colleges that would be a good fit for her and her major.
“She seems to have an intrinsic interest in science and for understanding how natural processes work,” Knittel said.
After tentatively reviewing her collegiate options, including looking at schools in the United States, Gil Promlee decided to look at more areas and countries. Along with this, she was more open to traveling abroad knowing the financial benefits it offers along with the knowledge that she has family abroad and would be able to see them.
“I have family in Spain, so I’ll probably go there often, and I’ll have some friends going to the United Kingdom so I’ll go visit there as well,” Gil Promlee said. “After looking at all my options, I decided that the Netherlands would be the best option for me.”
Additionally, because the Netherlands is primarily Dutch speaking, Gil Promlee will be staying in an English speaking program, but she is excited to be immersed in the different culture that the Netherlands has to offer. Moreover, she plans on traveling all around Europe while studying abroad, and plans to make the most out of her time outside of the country.
However, like any new location, the fear of being homesick and concerns of meeting new people are a source of anxiety for her.
“I’m scared of being homesick and not having a lot of people to depend on because my family won’t be there,” Gil Promlee said.
Nevertheless, Gil Promlee is particularly excited to be in an area that is so vastly different from Westford. She is looking forward to the terrain, as well as being independent. On the other hand, she is still planning on returning to the United States during school vacations and after college.
“For my entire high school career I’ve been in the suburbs, and I want to experience being in the city and being able to go to different places without a car,” Gil Promlee said.
