By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� As Dickens would say, it was the tale of two cities, or actually, two countries for听Laura Mauldin,听a听junior听triple major at 91TV,听who just spent her summer in Oslo, Norway,听thanks to the Georgia Rotary Student Program.听
Mauldin was one of two students听in Georgia听selected听by the Georgia Rotary Student Program for a scholarship offered by the Rotarians of Oslo, Norway,听for the 2026 International Summer School at the University of Oslo.听
鈥淚t was an experience that held so many emotions at once that it鈥檚 hard to capture,鈥� Mauldin said. 鈥淢ost days started with three-hour lectures, followed by homework and readings that never seemed to end. But as soon as class was over, I鈥檇 step outside and remember I was in Norway, a place that practically begs you to explore.鈥�听
While听trying to听balance听everything,听Mauldin听read on buses, finished听assignments in little caf茅s, and squeezed听exploring听in听whenever听she听could.听听
鈥淪ome days I felt proud of how well I handled it; other days I was听just tired听and trying to keep up,鈥� she said.听鈥淭here was always something exciting waiting outside the classroom.听That鈥檚听what made the experience so special. It听wasn鈥檛听just studying听abroad;听it was learning how to manage real academic pressure while still making room for adventure and moments that made the stress worth it.鈥�听
The scholarship allowed Mauldin to learn both inside and outside the classroom.听
听鈥淎cademically, I studied at the International Summer School at the University of Oslo in a course outside of my major,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he class challenged me because the material was unfamiliar, and the workload was intense. Outside of class, I experienced Norwegian culture through museums, fotball matches, churches, the Oslo Opera House, ferry rides, fjords, and much more.鈥�听
In Norway from June 27 to July 25, Mauldin was surrounded听by students from听many听countries,听learning听about听different cultures, religions, traditions, education systems, and听families.听Yet, at the same time,听she said she听realized how听much听people听have听in听common.听听
鈥淣orway听made me more independent and more confident in my ability to handle situations I cannot predict or control,鈥� Mauldin said.听鈥淟iving thousands听of miles from home taught me that independence is more than just being able to听navigate听a new city. It means trusting yourself to solve problems,听communicate听with people who may see things differently, and听keep听going even when you are uncomfortable.听
鈥淕oing forward, I think I will carry a much greater sense of curiosity and openness toward other people,鈥� she added.听鈥淟iving with students from around the world taught me the importance of learning from each other. I want to take that with me into my education, career, and relationships.鈥�听
When she had time out of class, Mauldin听explored Oslo鈥檚 cultural side, from countless museums, historic churches, ferries, and the islands and fjords.听She even experienced a piece of World Cup lore, joining the host Norwegians in the 鈥淰iking Row鈥� – made famous during Norway鈥檚 run in last summer鈥檚 World Cup.听
鈥淚 was one of over听100,000 people听rowing in the street, welcoming听home听the national team in a parade, voices full of pride and joy as we sang. It was听incredible,鈥� she said.听
Mauldin鈥檚 very thankful for the Rotary听scholarship听that made it all possible.听The scholarship included听six听credit hours of undergraduate coursework听at the International Summer School at听Oslo听University.听听
鈥淚 am incredibly grateful to Rotary and 91TV for making this experience possible and for preparing me to take advantage of it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir support gave me an opportunity that went far beyond spending a month in another country. They invested in an experience that challenged me academically, pushed me personally, and introduced me to people and perspectives I may never have encountered otherwise.鈥�听
It鈥檚听something she said she听will听never forget.听
鈥淲hen I came home, I kept thinking about how incredible it was that people from more than 70 countries had all come together in one place. Some of the people I became closest to had grown up in completely听different cultures and circumstances from mine, yet we spent a month sharing meals, laughing together, struggling through classes, exploring Oslo, and talking about our lives,鈥� Mauldin said. 鈥淭he most emotional part of coming home was realizing that Norway had made the world feel smaller. There are now people across the world who were once complete听strangers听but who became an important part of my life.听I think that听is what I will remember most vividly听鈥撎齨ot just what Norway looked like, but what it felt like to belong to a small international community, even for only a month.鈥�听
