Today was a long travel day, starting with an early wake up around 6 AM to catch a bus to the airport before a series of flights from London to Newark and then on to Pittsburgh, followed by the drive home to Erie. It is always a relief to be back home, but saying goodbye to London came with a lot of mixed emotions after such an incredible two weeks. Looking back, I almost did not take this trip, and I am so glad that I did. I will never forget the people I met, the places I s

Today was a bittersweet one, as it marked the final day of what has been an unforgettable two weeks in London. We started the morning at 1966 before heading into our last lecture with Dr. Dominic Orth, who shared his fascinating work using kickboxing as a rehabilitation tool for stroke patients and broader insights into movement and recovery. It was a fitting way to close out the academic side of the program, and his work was a great reminder of how creative and impactful app

Today started with breakfast at 1966 before heading into a unique lecture format where we spent time independently researching cricket in preparation for our visit to Lord's Cricket Ground later in the day. It was a different kind of learning experience that encouraged us to go in with some background knowledge and appreciation for the sport before seeing it in person. Lord's itself was absolutely beautiful and gave off a very similar energy to Wimbledon, that same sense of h

Today we had a really insightful lecture with Dr. Emily Hunt on the role of narrative in behavior change, which sparked a great discussion with the class about longevity and the ways in which people differ in their approaches to health and lifestyle. It was particularly interesting to hear about her work alongside those living with rheumatoid arthritis and how storytelling and personal narrative can play such a powerful role in motivating change. The conversation that followe

Today was a welcome break from the classroom as we headed out to the Royal Ascot, one of the most prestigious and iconic horse racing events in the world. The atmosphere was electric and it was such a unique experience to be part of an event so deeply rooted in British culture, dressed up and surrounded by the excitement of the crowds. A personal highlight was winning the first three races in bets with Jack, which made the day even more thrilling and memorable. I also got to

Today we had a guest lecture on myocardial infarction that turned out to be one of the most powerful and memorable presentations of the entire program. The speaker walked us through a series of slides on the condition before revealing at the end that he had personally experienced a myocardial infarction himself, making everything he shared feel deeply personal and impactful. It was a reminder of how much more meaningful information becomes when it comes from someone who has t

Today started off with a visit to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard, which was a fascinating display of British tradition and ceremony that I had been looking forward to since the trip began. From there we headed over to Big Ben to snap some pictures, and seeing such an iconic landmark in person never gets old. We then made our way back to the market, where I grabbed a pork sandwich loaded with cheese, which hit the spot after a morning of walking around th

Today was a more relaxed and laid back day compared to the rest of the week, which was a welcome change of pace. We started the morning with a full English breakfast in Uxbridge, which was a fun and fitting way to ease into the day, followed by a coffee before heading back to rest up at home. Later on we ventured back out to Uxbridge for tacos, which made for a fun and casual dinner with the group. To cap off the evening, we hopped on a double decker bus and spent about an ho

Today we had a lecture with Dr. Vassil Girginov on Olympic legacy and what it takes for host cities to successfully bring the World Cup or the Olympics to their shores. He was incredibly knowledgeable and made it clear that cities cannot simply want to host these events for the sake of prestige, but must have precise and well thought out reasons and plans for doing so. It was one of the lectures I found myself most engaged in, and it gave me a whole new perspective on the sca

Today we had a lecture with Dr. Liam O'Reilly on cognitive motor inference, which was one of the most interesting and thought provoking lectures of the program so far. It was a great opportunity to dive into how the brain processes and coordinates movement, and the discussion left me with a lot to think about long after it ended. We then grabbed lunch at Subway on campus before heading into the city for the evening, which was a nice and easy break in the middle of a busy day.

Today we started in the VR lab with Professor Adam, where we explored different simulations centered around children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and the use of virtual reality as a tool for training and rehabilitation. It was a fascinating look at how technology is being used to better understand and support kids who face movement and coordination challenges, and it left me thinking about how far this kind of innovation could go in the future. From there, we made

Today we had a lecture with Professor Costas Karageorghis on the role of music in sport and exercise, which was one of the more personally relevant topics I could have imagined sitting in on. As someone who rarely works out without music, it was fascinating to learn about the science behind something I experience every day. From there, we headed to the Olympic Park where we got to take part in activities at the velodrome and BMX course. I opted out of the velodrome but gave t

Today we kicked off the program with an introduction to Brunel University and a welcome lecture hosted by Adam, which set an exciting tone for the weeks ahead. We then headed to the lab to explore an elderly simulation experience, trying on equipment that mimics the sensory and movement impairments that come with aging. It was a humbling and eye-opening exercise that gave me a much greater appreciation for what older populations experience in their day to day lives. Afterward

Today was an incredible introduction to London as we visited one of the city's most iconic landmarks, the Tower of London. Walking through centuries of history, it was impossible not to be in awe of everything the tower has witnessed, from royal imprisonments to executions. The highlight of the visit for me was seeing the Crown Jewels up close, and no description could truly do justice to seeing the craftsmanship and weight of the regalia in person. After exploring the tower,