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Adding a Global Business Certificate on top of an already stacked course load—Business Analytics, Information Systems, an Operations & Information Management Certificate and a Korean Minor—was mainly influenced by my interest in the perspectives that come with doing business on a global scale.Ìý

Thinking more about it, my curiosity about what’s out there in the world is what draws me to learning about other countries and how people live differently from those I’ve been surrounded by, and even from how I live myself. That also ties into why I chose to minor in Korean Language and Culture. I wanted to learn more while challenging myself to become immersed in a culture I wasn’t familiar with. To explore that even further, I studied abroad in South Korea last spring semester. It was one of the most life-changing experiences I’ve ever had. Being fully immersed greatly improved my Korean language skills and my understanding of everyday life in Korea, and it also helped me grow as a person.Ìý

Studying abroad opened my eyes to the possibilities that are out there when you choose to explore them. I hadn’t pictured studying abroad during my earlier years in college, and I didn’t believe it was doable. I ended up proving myself wrong. ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ’s study abroad programs make going abroad more accessible to students. I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that many students pass up and later wish they had taken.

There were so many moments when I didn’t believe in myself or think I could pull off studying abroad because it was so different from what I was used to. But that’s what I challenge myself to do.Ìý

What else is important to you about your college experience?

If I were to take away one thing from my time at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, it would be that I made the choice to put myself out there and try whatever interested me. It’s better to know that something doesn’t work out for you than to keep wondering how your life might have turned out if you had taken that opportunity.Ìý

I know I don’t fully know myself yet, and learning doesn’t stop after college—it just changes shape. What I’ve noticed is that it becomes more about learning who you are and want to be. I’ve also learned to be proud of where I am and how far I’ve come instead of comparing myself to others. I’m nervous about not having everything figured out, including what I want to do after college, but I’m OK with that. I trust that I’ll keep finding my direction through the experiences I have and the choices I make.Ìý

I’m learning to own the decisions I’ve made, accept them, and learn from them instead of feeling ashamed of them, because they’ve helped shape who I am. That’s why I constantly remind myself to keep exploring and take chances on the opportunities that come my way, because you never know when you’ll get that chance again.Ìý

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