When and where did you study abroad?
I studied abroad several times while at Fairfield. I did a J-Term to Florence, Italy (2019), a summer session all across Greece (2021), a Fall Semester Aix-en-Provence, France (2021), and a traveling J-Term through France, Spain, and Belgium (2022).
How did your study abroad experience influence your career path?
The study abroad opportunities were what I was most looking forward to when entering Fairfield. Obviously as an International Studies student, international experience is paramount. My time abroad was one of, if not the most, important experiences of my undergraduate career. My time abroad helped me to develop my French language skills, allowed me to immerse myself in another culture, and facilitated my understanding of professional opportunities outside of the United States. Furthermore, the personal and professional networking I was able to do while abroad, greatly expanded and enriched my post-graduate opportunities. While abroad I was able to participate in an internship and thus develop my professional skills in an international setting.
What’s the most important thing you learned from studying abroad?
The most important thing I learned through study abroad was how to be flexible and how to pack light.
What are you going now and how does it relate to your study abroad experience?
I am currently pursuing my master's in international relations at the American College of the Mediterranean (ACM), which is the degree granting institution that runs alongside Fairfield’s partner, the Institute for American Universities (IAU). This is the university I studied abroad with for my semester abroad in Aix-en-Provence. I loved it so much; I came back to pursue my master's degree.
What advice would you give to prospective study abroad students?
Go abroad!!!! It is incredibly cliche to say but it is so incredibly true, studying abroad changed my life. I’d say go see as much of the world as you can, and experience as much as you can before diving into “real” adulthood.
