Journey(s) of a Lifetime

Meet Dario Leal ’25, a political science and economics major and philosophy minor who spent Fall 2024 studying abroad at King’s College London!

Leal took the metro every day to get to his university. His courses were composed of two weekly meetings, one dedicated to lectures and the other reserved for small seminars and discussion-based activities. As a prospective law student, he especially enjoyed his discussion classes as he felt they were a great insight into law school. 

Between classes, Leal spent his time at cafes preparing his law school applications, working on LSAT questions, or doing readings for his classes. “After class, I’d go back to my flat and work out. After my workout, I usually made dinner with my friend Moises, who also attends Trinity,” he says. “During the weekends, I liked traveling or going to football matches!” 

Leal's favorite thing about London is the people. “It is very diverse, with people from all over the world. Every friend I’ve made offers unique and interesting perspectives,” he says. 

This was Leal's second time studying abroad. In Summer 2023, Leal participated in Trinity’s Madrid Summer Internship Program, where he worked at a hotel company. During his internship, he learned about problem-solving and gained firsthand insight into how a large company manages its finances. During the weekends, Leal not only explored the beautiful city of Madrid but also took part in field trips organized by Trinity.

“Navigating Madrid by myself and traveling through Spain prepared me to embark on a journey of a lifetime,” he says. “My experiences abroad have definitely made me a much more independent person. I have met so many people from distinct backgrounds, and I feel more comfortable conversing with different people.”

Leal advises anyone interested in studying abroad to not worry so much about it. “These are opportunities we might only have once in our lives, and it would be a shame to live with the ‘what if,’” he says. “I can’t stress enough how much I’ve enjoyed seeing the world, and I want others to share this experience.”