Living Abroad: Emily Jarrett ‘10

Studying in Scotland seemed like a good decision academically and career-wise for Emily Jarrett ‘10; it also sounded like an exciting adventure. “I wanted to study International Relations and found out through Greenwood’s counselling service that the program at the University of Edinburgh was one of the best,” she says.

Emily knew some people who were also headed to the UK, so she felt confident she would have an established network, but there was still a lot of uncertainty. “I had no idea what it would be like to try to make a home in a new city, to make new friends, and to adjust to studying at the university level,” Emily says. One thing that really helped her transition into this new life was staying in contact with her family and friends on a daily basis. She also reached out to other Greenwood alumni who had moved to the UK and asked them to show her the ropes.

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, Emily ventured over to a new part of the UK. There were many career opportunities in London, particularly in the not-for-profit sector, which is what interested her most. After gaining work experience in London, she moved to Oxford and is now working in communications for the Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Oxford. 

“If you’re considering moving abroad, know that the benefits of a big adventure like this will always outweigh the risks and at the end of the day you can always go home,” Emily says. “I think I was able to make the decision to move abroad and to overcome the challenges that came with it because of the sense of adventure and confidence that I gained through my experience at Greenwood, and I am so grateful for that!”