PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (April 28, 2020) – To say Prairie View A&M University sophomore biology student Princess Pinamang has a bright future ahead of her is an understatement, considering how bright her present is.
After being awarded both the Gilman International Scholarship and Panthers Abroad Scholarship, Pinamang spent the fall 2019 semester studying at the University of Westminster in London.
Pinamang stands in front of the Reichstag Building in Berlin, Germany.
The opportunity allowed her to not only study in a new country, but explore 15 countries while backpacking across Europe.
From Micro to Macro
Pinamang’s studies focus on microbiology, a field where she’s already an author of research published in a journal by the American Society of Microbiology.
Despite the impressive accomplishment (she actually discovered she’d been published while in London), she said, “At the time that I was doing my study abroad applications, I was still a freshman and really unsure about what I wanted to do long term. I knew it had to be research because I absolutely did not want to be a doctor, but I didn’t know what I was interested in researching.”
The process of determining what to focus on helped inform her choice of location for the study abroad experience, which in turn helped her discover where her true ambitions lie.
“Many of the current biology study abroad programs focus on pre-med and marine biology, which are things I’d already ruled out as interests. The University of Westminster offered a direct enrollment program, where I could take a spread of classes, just like I did in my first year at Prairie View. I took Human Physiology, Programming Principles I, Photographing the City and Making Memory (humanities); this allowed me to fulfill both core curriculum and major requirements,” she said of her choice.
Adventures Abroad
When she wasn’t studying or exploring career opportunities, Pinamang was immersing herself in a new routine and experiencing a variety of cultures.
Pinamang poses in front of a busy scene outside of the Duomo di Milano Cathedral in Milan, Italy.
She explained that at Westminster, there’s no central campus, but rather, several campuses grouped by subject. Attending a variety of classes required her to visit various locations throughout London.
“Even though I stayed in student housing, I had to commute to class every day, which was very fun, as most of the campuses were in the heart of the city; morning and afternoon rush on the tube (subway) was a different beast,” she explained.
The university experience differed greatly from her classes at PVAMU, with a physiology lecture that included 400 people, but that wasn’t the most obvious indicator she wasn’t in the states.
“The biggest difference by far was the language, even though we both use English, from pronunciations, to spellings, to meanings, to slang,” she said. “Reminded me a lot of New York in the sense of the hustle and bustle, and nothing like what I’ve gotten used to in the South; there was something going on, no matter if it was 5 p.m. or 5 a.m.”
Pinamang visits the Smallest House in Great Britain, also known as the Quay House, in Conwy, Wales.
Beyond the UK, there was even more to experience. When asked which of the countries she visited was her favorite, she responded, “Such a hard choice, but I’d have to say Hungary. When I visited Budapest, it was so rich in culture; the people were so nice and accommodating, despite me not speaking Hungarian and them knowing little English; the food was hearty, delicious, and full of flavor-something I didn’t get a lot of in England; the US dollar goes a long way; the Budapest Eye definitely rivals that of London; their Gothic and Romanesque architecture was unlike anything I’d seen before; quite refreshing and definitely made me pay more attention to different building styles.”
Getting from place to place was fairly straightforward during her trip, thanks to the abundance of travel options. “Public transportation in the UK and European transportation, in general, is unrivaled. I was abroad for four months and only rode in a car one time. They drive on the left side of the street in the UK, but places like France drive on the right side, so I never quite got the hang of crossing the street,” she said.
But her time overseas wasn’t completely devoid of problems.
“My hair was in long box braids most of my time, and while I was in Wales and a few places in Europe, people came up to me and touched my hair uninvitedly. I didn’t really react because I knew I wasn’t just representing myself, but black people in general (even if not from America), and I did not want to add to any negative perceptions,” she explained. “Each encounter was unsettling and left me uneasy. More common though was the staring, even in the more touristy cities like Rome. But, I am still thankful for these experiences. My race plays a big role in my identity, and these encounters pushed me to discover myself more as a person.”
The Big Picture
Thankfully, the good outweighed the bad in the end.
Pinamang overlooks the Conwy Town Walls in Conwy, Wales.
“When I got to Westminster, my Physiology professor actually helped me get connected with someone at the university who was working on similar research to mine. I couldn’t work in the lab because I was on a short-term study visa, but I did get to see their work and exchange thoughts (a scientist’s nirvana),” Pinamang said of her experience studying in London.
The opportunity to study abroad helped her fully solidify her plans for the future.
She outlined the exciting path to her dream job, and how it tied together both her passion for research and travel. “I worked in the International Programs office before I went abroad and continue to do so since returning. After experiencing first-hand what I had promoted to so many other students and connecting with scientists with such different perspectives, I realized I needed a job that would bring me back abroad. So now, after I get my Ph.D. in microbiology, I’d like to work for an NGO [non-governmental organization] like the World Health Organization or United Nations.”
Pinamang visits the Seven Sisters Cliffs in Seaford, England.
Pinamang encourages other students to broaden their horizons.
“My advice is to continuously chase new things: different perspectives, different ways of life, different people… It pushes you out of your comfort zone and forces you to grow. The more you grow, your potential does as well,” she said.
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By Marley Crusch