Studying in a different country opened Kelly's eyes to the world
Kelly Borris was an exchange student at the University of Gothenburg in 2018. She is now continuing to study towards her degree in childhood education at home in Montréal, Canada, while also working as an adjoint manager in a kindergarten as a part of the administrative team.
How have you benefited from your time in Sweden?
For me, my studies in Gothenburg were a benefit for both my personal experience and my career. Because I work with a big team, I encounter a lot of diversity at work, such as ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic status, and so on. Studying in a different country opened my eyes to the world and changed my Canadian perspective. All this helps me to be a better educator and a better individual as well.
What made you choose the University of Gothenburg for your studies?
This university has a lot of good critical courses based on seminars and discussions. In education, it is so important to question our practice and reflect on our values and behaviours. Also, I wanted to experience something different. Scandinavia is highly rated in education, so I knew I was making the right choice. Also, Gothenburg is a very nice and safe city, which is important for exchange students when making a choice.
What was best with your studies here?
The discussions we had in class and the teachers’ approach to the material was very interesting. In Canada, university professors are privileged individuals so we talk to them very politely and our relationship with them is highly professional. It’s the opposite in Sweden. Teachers talk to us like friends, so our discussions were very deep and real. I very much appreciated that.
How did you experience your time as a student in Gothenburg?
Gothenburg is such a sweet city. People are always happy to help and the university organizes so many activities that it’s hard to keep up. It’s funny because... when I was in Sweden and told people I’m Canadian, they said things like “oh my god, wow! that is so far!”. And somehow, I still managed to make Sweden my home for four months. Gothenburg was my city, and it really, deeply felt like home. A part of my heart definitely stayed in Sweden and will stay there forever. I had the time of my life and brought back with me the best memories.
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This interview was conducted in 2020 and written by Cecilia Floris.