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“First arriving in Helsinki felt overwhelming but exciting because I had been anticipating it for several months and there had been a few meetings beforehand it felt surreal to then finally be in Helsinki,” she said. “I had a feeling of wanting to maximize all of the new opportunities and explore every inch of the city. Every corner there was something new which was refreshing because I often catch myself bored of new experiences and too comfortable in �����Ƶ.”

For Robertson, one of the most impactful experiences took place shortly into the program. The cohort traveled to Kiljava, a village in the municipality of Nurmijärvi and Hyvinkää in southern Finland.

“Driving along the Finnish countryside was stunning and the summer cabin we stayed at in the woods appeared like a hidden gem,” Robertson said. “Sleeping in bunk beds, sausages by the fire, and sitting by the lake with the sun still high in the sky at 11:00 pm felt like I was at camp but 10x better. We learned how to measure the summer cabin by hand and translate these measurements into drafted drawings.”

The 15-credit hour program spans May to August and satisfies the program’s off-campus requirement. Students studied at Aalto University, named in honor of Alvar Aalto, a prominent Finnish architect and designer.

The country gave Robertson a new outlook on the built environment.

“Stepping onto a campus designed by Alvar Aalto was a privilege and I got to see first hand how his drawings translated in beautiful spaces. While Alvar Aalto made a tremendous impact on Finnish architecture, the Finnish design culture was unlike anything I had experienced. The Finnish design culture prides itself in well built things, design competitions that yield beautiful public spaces, and attention to every detail. These are just a few design approaches that I am now determined to use in my future practice as an architect and designer.”