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For Grace Roscoe, a Global Seminar in the United Kingdom became more than an opportunity to study abroad, it became a deeply personal experience shaped by sport, family, and learning how to grow in unfamiliar spaces. During the , she studied Sport Communication and the Culture of Sport while traveling through London, Liverpool, and Manchester. The course explored sports marketing, women in sport, labor unions, fan culture, and the social dynamics surrounding soccer teams in each city. Moving between three cities known for their rich sports histories made the material feel tangible, showing how closely sport is tied to identity and community throughout the UK.

As Grace reflected, “It was fascinating to compare how history, identity, and community shape fandom and sporting culture throughout the UK.”

Her decision to join the program felt personal from the start. “I’ve always loved to travel, and London has held a special place in my heart,” she shared, explaining that many of her family members are from England and still live there. Combining that connection with her passion for sports, and her hope to pursue a career in the sports industry, made the seminar feel like a natural fit. It gave her the chance to explore sports on a global scale while also spending time in a country that already carried meaning for her.

While the academic experience was memorable, the most lasting lessons came outside the classroom. “The biggest lesson I learned was that being alone or having moments of loneliness is the best environment for growth.” Traveling abroad meant navigating excitement and homesickness at the same time, often within a single day. Instead of avoiding those emotions, she learned to move through them. “I learned to be more independent, resilient, and confident in navigating unfamiliar situations,” she explained.

Some of her favorite memories weren’t tied to scheduled activities or major excursions, but to quieter moments she found on her own — afternoons spent shopping or exploring the city alone. Those experiences became small but meaningful reminders that growth often happens when you allow yourself to slow down and exist somewhere new without a plan.

That openness carried into how she approached the entire program. “I learned to say yes even when you are unsure of the outcome,” she said. Whether it was wandering through Notting Hill or jumping into spontaneous plans with classmates, she felt that each yes created a new experience. Even on one free weekend, someone suggested taking a visit to Brighton to see the English Channel, and on their very first day in London, the group bought train tickets together. The experience became one of her favorite days of the entire program. It reminded her that sometimes the best memories begin with a simple decision to go.

One moment, however, stood apart from all the rest. While in Manchester, the group visited Old Trafford, Manchester United’s football stadium. Her grandad played goalkeeper for Manchester United in the early 1960s, and walking through the same stadium where he once played made the experience deeply emotional.

“This day was my favorite of the whole program,” she shared.

Her grandad passed away about two years ago, and being in a place she had heard so many stories about, and where she had watched countless soccer games growing up with her dad and grandad, felt surreal. “My grandad was such a big part of my life, a constant sounding board who encouraged me to dream big and taught me what it means to work hard.” In that moment, sport and family history felt inseparable, turning the visit into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Looking back, her advice to students considering a Global Seminar is simple: “Go for it.” Traveling abroad with people you don’t know can feel nerve-wracking at first, but worries about food, living arrangements, or cultural differences fade quickly. What stays with you are the friendships, confidence, and memories that come from stepping into something new. As she explained, exploring a new city and culture pushes you to grow in ways that can’t be replicated in a classroom, so when you have a free afternoon or weekend, don’t waste those opportunities.

For Grace, the Global Seminar became about much more than studying sport in the UK. It was about connection — to culture, future career goals, independence, and family legacy — and discovering that growth often begins the moment you decide to say yes.