George Washington University Athletics
GW Softball's Breland Studies Abroad at Oxford
8/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Aug. 13, 2015
Like many other George Washington student-athletes, softball junior Bradleigh Breland spent a portion of her summer taking classes. Unlike many of those students, however, Breland took those classes at the prestigious Oxford University in Oxford, England.
"I really wanted to study abroad during the summer so I could get the experience," said Breland. "I just looked up program options online and where I could go and get credits that GW would accept."
Breland enrolled in two month-long summer courses at Oxford: The Uncertain State of the European Union and Religion and Politics in the Middle East. The outfielder gained a first-hand experience of the education system in England and particularly enjoyed the method of learning overseas.
"I love the way the education system is set up in the UK," said Breland. "The amount of one-on-one interaction with tutors and the types of research you do are set up to let you pursue specific topics of interest more easily. The tutors I had were some of the most renowned in their fields, which made learning so much more exciting."
Taking courses across the Atlantic Ocean allowed Breland to learn with a European perspective and gain a better understanding of how the European Union functions. Breland even interacted closely with tutors who have taken part in some of the events discussed in her studies.
"My tutor for Religion and Politics in the Middle East lived in Iran during the Iranian Revolution and has been an active participant in the nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. for a long period of time," said Breland. "Having this type of personal experience mixed in with the course material was very different than the things I have learned at GW. It was a tremendous way to learn."
When not dedicating time to her studies, Breland visited historic sites, including Shakespeare's birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon, and explored London culture and shopping. A favorite spot of Breland's was right on campus at Oxford Anniversary Park, where the psychology major would often run while passing meadows, streams and livestock. In addition to runs, Breland adjusted to training without access to a weight room by adapting body weight workouts from her usual strength routines.
A native of Houston, Breland will spend the remainder of her summer break in Foggy Bottom before fall semester classes begin later this month.
