UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State College of Arts and Architecture student Drake Daboul, a third-year student in the bachelor of fine arts in acting program, is no stranger to long days and late nights.
She typically takes nine classes per semester, which is more than double the 12-credit-per-semester requirement for full-time students, and that usually keeps her in class each day from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
But the day doesn’t stop there. She is in rehearsal for another four hours and spends even more time performing in and attending shows on the weekends.
This semester, Daboul is switching up her normal University Park routine by studying abroad at the Theatre Academy of London, which is made possible in part by the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
“One of the reasons I came to Penn State was because I knew that we’d be able to go abroad and go to London, which is really cool,” Daboul said.
The scholarship program is offered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and provides students with funding to study or intern abroad.
It aims to “expand the U.S. student population that studies and interns abroad, helping more young Americans to gain the professional skills, language abilities, and knowledge of the world needed for successful careers,” according to the program’s website.
Daboul was awarded $3,000 from the program and said it helped with the financial aspects of studying abroad in an expensive city like London. To apply, she had to write three essays, a statement of purpose and two community impact essays.
“It was an easy process for sure, and I would definitely encourage other people to do it,” Daboul said.
Daboul has been in London since early January and will stay for the entire 2024 spring semester. As part of the study abroad semester, which is a requirement of the bachelor of fine arts in acting program, she will be taking five classes, including introduction to theatre in London; gender, race and performance; scene study; movement techniques; and acting techniques.
She said her favorite parts of studying acting in London are the phenomenal teachers, getting to hear from working actors, and seeing at least one live show each week.
“It’s been really amazing networking with a lot of different people,” Daboul said. “One of the most important things in this field is to make those connections. It’s also fun to work with new people. Having new actors to work with will help me grow.”
Daboul said she hopes studying abroad also will help her move closer to her goals of performing in a Broadway musical like “Moulin Rouge” or “Hamilton,” moving to California to work in television, and dabbling in voice acting.
“I want to do everything that I can possibly do,” she said.
While Daboul won’t perform in any shows while abroad, the program ends with a mini showcase where the students can demonstrate the scenes and skills they have worked on all semester.
“I just love entertaining people, whether that’s making them laugh, or making them cry, or making them just smile,” Daboul said. “It’s like cracking open a heart.”