Testimonials

Saying goodbye to the incredible Berkeley International Study Program (BISP), UC Berkeley! Beyond the exceptional coursework in AI, Economy and Society, Energy and Civilization, and Brands and Sustainability, my time at University of California, Berkeley has been a transformative experience. The stunning campus, the incredibly bright and inspiring people I've met, and the overall quality of education have truly opened my mind and expanded my mental horizons.

Thinking of the past year, I smile with a feeling of sheer delight, overwhelmed by such wonderful memories. I learned a number of invaluable things in my life including awareness of diverse culture, diverse friends, confidence in English, unforgettable trips, a reminder of the true value of myself, how to love myself, and how to love the world better.

You can be your truest self here. You can completely reinvent yourself. I had the chance to do so many things I never thought I’d do because of what other people would think. The courses I took changed my life. They made me learn so much about the world and myself and helped me realize what I really want to study. I even started looking for courses and masters around the world that are about things I’ve learned here. Berkeley is a unique place, talk to everyone you can, go to meetings, eat cuisines you’ve never tried, join groups, and travel around. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Berkeley was not only an amazing place to live and meet new people, but also a great learning experience. I took courses in equity, inquiry-based learning, research, and educational technology, which showed me different ways students learn and how diversity can be a real strength in the classroom. These classes taught me how to build on what students already know, let them explore ideas through hands-on activities, and adjust my teaching to their individual needs. These are lessons I’ll bring with me into my future work as a teacher. I’m proud to be a Cal alum and excited about being a BISP ambassador this year!

I go every weekend to the orchestra because we have student discounts and I enjoy seeing many famous musicians and very talented people playing music. My own composition was presented live about a week ago and I felt proud because I had a lot of help from my friends and professors who are really inspiring! I just feel really proud of what I’ve done here at Berkeley.

Wow, what an amazing year it has been! Taking the risk of moving to a different country, far away from home, leaving all my friends and family behind, with the possibility of losing parts of what I had created for myself in Bergen, was really a risk worth taking. It has given me new exciting friendships with people from other parts of the world. It has given me great confidence both academically and emotionally. It has also made me think about my life, and what I will make of it.