Program and Location:
Summer, Summer Start in Prague; Prague, Czech Republic
Major/Minor:
Business administration major with a concentration in business analytics
Why did you choose to study abroad?
I chose to study abroad before the start of my freshman year at NC State so I could meet new people and make friends before starting at State. As an out-of-state student, I knew it would be hard to move across the country from California and be in a place with all new faces. I thought going abroad for two weeks with other first year students would allow me to build some friendships prior to even starting the semester. I also was very interested in the Critical and Creative Decision Making Models course they offered. As a business major looking to specialize in analytics, being able to think outside of the box is crucial when providing solutions to businesses. I felt as though this course would help strengthen my analytical skills and help me grow in my team project abilities, as that was the main focus of the course.
What did you learn about yourself?
My time in Prague taught me that I am capable regardless of my fears. The whole idea of going abroad was to help me grow in friendships and also become comfortable with being uncomfortable. I was practically going in blind to the whole experience and I was not sure what to expect. In the past, this type of situation would have had me running for the hills! Those two weeks taught me independence, how to work with others, travel skills and so much more. I learned that I love to travel and try new things but that I am best when the people around me are also game for new adventures. A lot of my coming out of my comfort zone moments were due to the people around me encouraging me to try new things. I had to learn to trust people more and to experience every moment.
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What was one of your favorite parts of your program?
My favorite part of the program was going to Český Krumlov. Pictures online do not do it justice as it is the most beautiful place I have ever been. When we arrived, we dropped our bags off at the hostel and immediately went river rafting for three hours. I thought the three hours was going to be brutal, especially because it started raining a bit when we arrived at the river. However, with an open mind I had the time of my life with my friends as we floated down the river and occasionally raced the people nearby. We ended our night with a group dinner then walking around the town with new friends. The morning after we toured a castle from the 1200s and someone may or may not have dropped their water bottle accidentally into the bear’s living space (the castle has a bear moat). There was a decent amount of down time in Český that I was able to explore, learn, and enjoy everything it had to offer. I find myself looking at pictures of our time there quite often.
What advice do you have to future study abroad students?
Studying abroad itself is incredible. From new sights, new environment, new food, etc there is just so much to take in. However, these study abroad trips are nothing without the people that go on them. That was one of the biggest things I realized when I was abroad. I saw how everyone on the trip was willing to participate and to be a part of the new experiences together. Even if things went off track or not according to plan, we all made it work because we were willing to try. Your mindset when studying abroad is so important because things can go wrong and disappointments can happen but it is what you do with those experiences that will determine how enjoyable the trip will be. I know that because of my and my peers’ mindsets throughout Prague, I will be forever changed by those twelve days in the Czech Republic.
How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?
Prior to Prague, I had always struggled to work in groups due to finding it easier to work independently. However this trip made me realize how important group work is and how much more can be accomplished when working together. When I consider a business analytics career, I see the need to have strong communication skills as I try to explain the trends in the data. If I cannot explain myself effectively, I am wasting valuable time that could be used in other ways. Some of the specific things we did during our class time was constantly communicating with one another through various activities. Hours of brainstorming for different projects occurred during which we made sure to operate in a judgement free zone. Over time, we all grew in our abilities to work well together and ended with a final project of which we were proud.
Would you do it again?
Absolutely. I am planning on studying abroad this summer in Australia and do the Global Leadership minor in spring of my sophomore year where you spend time in three countries over ten weeks.
