By Yigit Akan, Undergraduate Visiting Student in Culture and History in NYC, School of Professional Studies
Beyond my coursework in the Arts in the Summer program, I had the chance to explore the City That Never Sleeps and make new friends. Through Columbia University School of Professional Studies events, I felt like a resident during my time here.
I explored new neighborhoods, tried exciting new food, and felt more connected to the city each passing day. As I traveled up and down New York’s streets, in just six weeks, I had the chance to watch a Mets game, the World Cup matches, take a Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island, and celebrate the Knicks championship. Only in New York can you experience once-in-a-lifetime events and then shrug them off as everyday incidents. New York is a place to expect the unexpected, to live a new adventure every day.
I am eternally grateful for my time as a summer student at Columbia University. Here, I had the opportunity not just to learn more about literature, but also to explore this bustling city and incorporate it into my own writing. I feel more inspired, as New York made me appreciate the beauty of being part of a large crowd, where each individual has their own dreams and aspirations.
Here are a few moments that capture my summer in New York and at Columbia.
About the Program
Each summer, Columbia University offers hundreds of courses for Columbia students and visiting students from other domestic and international institutions. Summer Session offers the opportunity to study with Columbia’s esteemed faculty, pursue academic interests, and advance studies or prepare for graduate school. Focus areas include Culture and History in New York City, Foundations in Pre-Medicine, Public Affairs and Sustainable Futures, and Wall Street Prep: Economics, Finance & Analytics. Learn more about Summer Session at Columbia University.
