22 September 2014

Study Abroad Admissions

Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd
Lawrence, KS 66045

Dear Members of the Study Abroad Admissions Committee,

I am writing to recommend Sally (Sarah Elizabeth) Carpenter to the Study Abroad Program at the
University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland. Sally was in my English 101 class in the Fall of 2012,
and is still as eager and bright-eyed as the day I met her. Sally proved herself capable of good
written articulation and personable interaction, both in the classroom and in out-of-class
conferences. Sally had good attendance and was timely with assignments, always using available
resources to problem-solve before bringing a question to class. She is a self-reliant individual who
has the ability to bring people together: this talent of hers made her a great asset in the
classroom, as I knew that any group activity that Sally was involved in would go smoothly and
amicably. Sally helped guide other students through a more systematic writing and discussion
process; this was her personal organization style, and it translated seamlessly into her academic,
work, and peer relationships. Sally earned a B+ in my course, placing her in the top third of her
101 section.
When Sally and I sat down to talk about Study Abroad, the first question I asked her was, "Are
you nervous about becoming homesick?" This question has a bit of a back-story: when Sally was
initially transitioning into University life (during the time she was in my 101 course), she
experienced some homesickness. She considered moving back to her hometown, Madison, WI,
for a period of time. We discussed this in one of conferences during the semester, and I
remember leaving on an ambiguous note with her. However, Sally decided to test her resilience
and see what came out of staying at KU; even more importantly, she chose to trust herself and
allow herself time to adjust to a new setting. This turned out to be an excellent move: Sally soon
began to settle into the routines of KU and build a life of her own here. In the time between her
considering moving back to Madison and now, Sally has become an essential member of her
sorority, has secured outreach positions for University and non-University entities, and views
Lawrence as her home-away-from-home. We discussed the importance of this choice, as she
recognized that her investment in KU's social and academic life was worth the initial struggle.
Sally learned a lot about herself through this transition, and has been applying that knowledge to
her everyday life: she was sure to choose a Study Abroad program that was closely affiliated with
the University of Kansas, so that she already had a sense of belonging when she arrived in an
unfamiliar setting. While Sally knows that she will not be immune to homesickness, her previous
experience in practicing resilience when it comes to transitional periods will surely inform her
choices if that time comes. Additionally, Sally discussed the trajectory of her academics with an
advisor, to confirm that her credits would transfer seamlessly and would not impede on her timeto-degree, so that these considerations would not be a force of anxiety that may take away from
the experience of Study Abroad itself. Sally has excellent forethought and preparation.
I cannot stress enough how much of an asset Sally is in a group setting. She has cultivated her
ability to bring people together and persuade them to follow her lead: but she only uses these

powers for good, as she is generous and kind-hearted in her social relationships and wants to
see herself and others succeed. I can see Sally being the moderating force between having a fun,
exciting experience, and attending to one's personal and academic responsibilities. She is a
delightful, grounded young woman with personal integrity. Sally would be a valuable member of
any Study Abroad cohort.
Sincerely,
Meaghan A. Kelly