How Tufts Summit Ignited My Passion for Global Affairs

My study abroad in Talloires with the Tufts Summit program was a summer of discoveries and firsts. It was not only my first study abroad, but also my first European trip, my first time away from my family, my first college-level courses, and my first time living with a host family. It was also the first time I would be exploring international relations and French culture and language. I was excited and apprehensive. Little did I know that my summer in Talloires would launch me into an academic and professional career in international relations and multilingualism.

After Tufts Summit, I did another study abroad in high school, also focused on international relations. By the time I started at Smith College, I knew I wanted to focus on IR. I was, and still am, drawn to the complex and interconnected nature of global issues, where the actions of one country can ripple across the world, impacting societies, economies, and the environment in profound ways. I want to use my knowledge of different cultures and languages to build bridges of understanding and connection. 

This passion for IR only deepened as I traveled abroad to Buenos Aires and Geneva on undergraduate exchange programs. In Buenos Aires, I delved into the dynamics of grassroots activism, witnessing firsthand the power of collective action, and, in Geneva, I delved into the intricacies of international child rights advocacy, working to bring pressing issues like juvenile justice to the forefront of the global agenda. During these experiences, I met a wide range of individuals — some were experts in their field who provided invaluable insights and direction, some became mentors who challenged me to grow personally and professionally, and others became good friends who shared my passion for creating positive change. 

These international experiences opened my eyes to the vast opportunities outside the United States. As I reflected on these experiences, I found myself repeatedly returning to my unforgettable first study abroad with Tufts Summit and my growing desire to return to France.  

In a full-circle kind of way, I embarked on a Master’s program at Sciences Po Paris, where I specialized in International Governance and Diplomacy with a concentration in Global Risks. My time at Sciences Po was intellectually rigorous and deeply enriching. The program’s emphasis on combining theory with practice allowed me to refine my analytical skills and broaden my understanding of the complexities of global governance. I had the privilege of interning at the OECD’s Observatory for Public Sector Innovation (OPSI), where I worked within the Mission Action Lab for the past year. There, I contributed to projects aiming to address complex public policy challenges through a missions-oriented approach, focusing particularly on how this approach could foster a more sustainably just and effective green transition. Through my experiences, I’ve gained the skills and perspectives to begin navigating and contributing to the global policy landscape.

Nearly ten years after Tufts Summit, I graduated from Sciences Po in the country that began my path in IR. I am fully prepared to continue my journey in international relations, inspired by the lessons and experiences that have shaped my path so far. At times, I can’t help but think that the formative study abroad experience I had at Tufts Summit was the spark that set everything in motion.

Olivia Sabini-Leite – Tufts Summit 2015 Alumna