Finding an Unexpected Home

It is no exaggeration to say a few chance college courses changed the trajectory of life for Sheldon Morris CCAS'19. The Rutgers University–Camden alumnus lives in Paris, where he works as an engineering consultant and has planted roots in Europe, which surprises even him some days.

“If you had told me when I was 18, I'd be working in Paris, speaking and understanding French with native speakers, I would have been shocked,” Morris said. “It wasn't even in my realm of possibilities.”

Sheldon Morris CCAS ’19 in London, England

Morris in London, England

The Paris resident’s first glimpse of European life began across the English Channel while he was still a student at Rutgers–Camden. Originally from Clementon, N.J., Morris transferred to Rutgers and, through an orientation program, discovered the Learning Abroad experience. Rutgers–Camden Learning Abroad integrates international travel—typically a 10-day or two-week trip—into course curriculum. He enrolled in the class “International Perspectives of Forensic Science in England” to fulfill the criminal justice requirement of his sociology major. His trip to the United Kingdom would open his eyes to a brand new adventure.

“It was the first flight of my life,” Morris recalled. “The day we landed, it was my first time abroad. I was the first person in my family to leave the country or have a passport.”

Led by Kimberlee Moran, associate teaching professor of forensic science in the College of Arts and Sciences, Morris and his classmates toured courthouses throughout the country, including London’s central criminal court, known as Old Bailey. There, they observed a case involving a teenager accused of bombing a city subway station. “That was a pretty big case at the time. And it's kind of crazy that we got to witness that,” Morris recalled. Before crossing the pond, Morris had never spoken to a British person before and appreciated discussing UK-based music, television, and movies. “It was interesting to talk with people you don't really get to interact with by where I'm from,” he said.

Back at Rutgers–Camden, an urban studies course called “Neighborhood Change, Social Movements, and the Arts in Germany” piqued Morris’s interest in a second opportunity abroad—his first in a different language.

Morris vividly recounted arriving in Alexanderplatz, a public square in the center of Berlin, with his classmates and Natasha Fletcher, then the director of the Department of Public Policy and Administration, who led the course. “Standing at Alexanderplatz, just looking around, hearing everyone speak German, including Professor Fletcher, was a surreal moment,” he said. In Berlin, Morris discovered an array of urban development projects and how, despite being left in ruins after World War II, the city learned to rebuild its urban fabric over and over again.

Alexanderplatz, Berlin, Germany

Alexanderplatz, Berlin, Germany

“The Learning Abroad program changed my life because I didn't really know what to do with myself,” Morris said. “But after those international experiences, I found I really enjoyed traveling. I really enjoyed being here in Europe. And it opened my eyes to the fact that there's more to life.”

Morris in Paris, France

Morris in Paris, France

The experience inspired Morris to travel independently to Europe just before graduating with degrees in urban studies and sociology in 2019. It also jumpstarted his plan to live abroad long-term. He earned his master’s degree three years later in urban planning and territorial development from l’Ecole d’Urbanisme de Paris while teaching himself French. The alumnus now works on feasibility, needs assessments, and spatial planning projects for a consultancy firm at the company’s location in France, where his fluency in English and French have helped support the firm’s teams in the UK and Paris.

Morris lived for a short time in Brussels while interning for his graduate degree, and he now foresees establishing his home base in either Belgium or France. No matter which country he decides to call home, Morris hopes Rutgers–Camden students will heed his advice: “Be open to new experiences and take advantage of the opportunities available to you. College is a relatively short period of time in your life, but it can be really impactful.”

Design: Douglas Shelton
Photos Courtesy: Sheldon Morris