Azannah Levett '26 wanted to stand out from the crowd, and she did. But the experience wasn't exactly what she expected.
Levett could have studied abroad this summer in a predominantly English speaking country, but she intentionally avoided that convenience.
"I’d always heard about people choosing London, Portugal, or other well-known destinations for study abroad. I wanted to do something different. I wanted to challenge myself. That’s why I chose Prague. Most people speak Czech, one of the hardest languages to learn, and I knew that being in a place where even the language was unfamiliar would force me to adapt and grow in ways I couldn’t back home.”
She could have studied in a more diverse city where she might have easily blended into the background. But Levett didn't want that convenience either.
“Back home, I was surrounded by diversity. My city reflects so many cultures and communities. That’s what I was used to. But part of me wanted to see who I’d become if I stepped into an environment where I didn’t blend in at all."
Working with Siena's Study Abroad team, Levett enrolled in a four-week 'Arts and Architecture in Prague' course, and traveled alone, intentionally seeking out the discomfort. The biggest surprise? She didn't find it to be all the discomforting.
“My goal was self-growth and perspective. It’s easy to say you’re confident in who you are, but it’s another thing to live it when you can’t hide or blend into the background. In Prague, I didn’t have that option. I often stood out as the only Black girl in the room. At first it was uncomfortable, but I realized I had intentionally chosen this. I wanted to know what it meant to navigate a space where difference wasn’t just noticed but it defined me. I had to learn to carry myself with a kind of assurance that went deeper than appearance. It became about knowing my worth, no matter the space.”
Growing up in a much more diverse community, Levett always had access to the products and resources she either needed or wanted. In Prague, that wasn't always the case. But again, that was the point.
“Something as simple as walking into a store and realizing there weren’t products for me or people like me was eye-opening. It made me think about what it means to live in an under-resourced community, and how being overlooked in small ways adds up to a larger story of inequity. That experience ties directly to my passion for criminal justice and human rights. I want to advocate for people who don’t have access, who are unseen, and who deserve better. Living abroad gave me a lived perspective that textbooks alone couldn’t provide.”
Levett was raised by young parents. Her mom put her own education on pause to prioritize her daughter's and she had dreams – like studying abroad – that went unfulfilled. This was an experience for both of them.
"My mom has always put a heavy emphasis on education, and she's pushed me to take advantage of all opportunities. I fulfilled both of our dreams in Prague. Plus, I have three younger sisters. I want to be a role model for them, and I want to show them that fear shouldn't hold you back."
Levett stepped outside of her comfort zone for the sole purpose of being uncomfortable. But discovering she can be comfortable anywhere was the gift from Prague she never expected.
