Working on this project and presenting it at the Undergraduate Research Showcase made me realize that it was more than just another assignment. Comparing Québec City, Canada and Nairobi, Kenya helped me understand how differently cities can grow depending on factors like planning, population, and resources. As an international student, I also found myself connecting these ideas to places I’m familiar with, where rapid growth and informal housing are more common, which made the project feel more personal. Presenting it to others was a valuable experience because it gave me the chance to share what I learned and see how people reacted to these global differences. It also helped me build confidence in explaining my ideas clearly and showed me how academic work can actually contribute to broader conversations, not just stay in the classroom.
