Brooklynn James ’28

For Brooklynn James, a biology and pre-medicine student from Kane, Pa., studying abroad wasn’t just a chance to travel — it was a chance to see the world differently.

James has participated in two study abroad programs through Pitt-Bradford, traveling first to Northern Ireland and Ireland and later to Japan. Both experiences left a lasting mark.

In Northern Ireland, James and her fellow students visited Derry/Londonderry, Belfast, Donegal, and Dublin, studying the effects of politics on the Troubles. Sites included the Giants Causeway, Peace Walls, Bloody Sunday Museum and Stormont Parliament Building. Each site brought history to life in a new way.

It was a moment at a youth center that stayed with her most. A young person there told the group, “Protestant, Catholic doesn’t matter, we’re all just people.” James said that sentiment captured everything she took away from the trip — that progress only comes when people choose to truly listen to one another.

Her second journey took her to Japan, where she immersed herself in the country’s culture and history alongside students from host university and Pitt-Bradford sister campus Yokohama College of Commerce. The group traveled to Kyoto, Yokohama, and Hiroshima, visiting temples, shrines, Sumo wrestlers and landmarks including Tokyo Tower, the Imperial Palace, the Monkey Shrine and the Atomic Bomb Museum. A highlight was wearing a kimono while visiting shrines and attending a traditional tea ceremony. “My goodness was it blisteringly hot in the Kimono, but it is an experience that I will never forget,” she said.

Back on campus, James credits Pitt-Bradford with giving her the foundation to take on those experiences. “I really enjoy the community,” she said. “The staff and professors [are] willing to meet with you and help in any and every way that they can.”