Kathryn Harville

2020 Gilman Scholar

Hometown

Plymouth, IN

Major

Mechanical Engineering Technology

College

Purdue Polytechnic Institute

 

I am participating in an exchange program at the Polytechnic University of Valencia and am extremely enthusiastic to represent Purdue as a woman in the STEM field. While in Valencia, I will continue to take classes toward my degree in mechanical engineering technology, such as manufacturing technology and studying heat transfer.

 

While I interact with humans daily, studying abroad I will see a new approach to communicating, language, and human interaction as a whole. When it comes to AI, my end goal is to create new technologies that can benefit not just my country, but the entire world. Being exposed first-hand to a new culture can give me better insights into how I can develop AI on a global scale. I want to make technology that is going to benefit the world, thus I need to research more about the world.

 

The Valencia and Purdue Polytechnics share similar values and offer classes with similar content, but at the end of the day, everything is different. Classes in the U.S. are very structured and broken down into projects, exams, and assignments. At Valencia, this is not the case at all. Classes are not as heavily structured and grades are determined by a single final exam (if you’re lucky, maybe two). Classes are also more student-driven, as it’s up to the individual student to figure out what they need to be learning and stay on top of materials that are covered in class since homework is not common. This on its own will force me to relearn how I learn, but also will give me a chance to see how students in Spain learn and how student/teacher relationships vary across cultures. While this will be challenging, I am excited to take on these difficulties as they can also lead to new insights I can later apply to AI. It will also force me to learn to adapt to new situations. During this time abroad, I am in search of personal and professional growth that I never knew I could pursue. If I can manage myself well during this time, it will prepare me to better face challenges while being home.

 

Something I am heavily involved with here at my home university is Purdue Electric Racing, which is a team that builds and competes in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) student Electric Formula series. I know that SAE has an international division, and there are 21 schools in Spain that participate. Whether or not the Polytechnic University of Valencia also participates, my goal is to find and work there with a highly involved engineering team. This would allow me to find work I am excited about as well as find common ground with Spanish students. This association will help me build a sense of belonging in a foreign environment.

 

I want this study abroad trip to have a greater impact than just on me. When I found out how many financial resources were available to low-income students wanting to study abroad, I could not believe it. The Gilman Scholarship is an incredible resource that opens up the world to low-income students, and so many students are not even aware of its existence. Every student who wants to study abroad should do so, despite their financial situation. When I return, I want to be able to share this awareness and spread the excitement of experiencing a new culture to other students as well.