When and where did you study abroad?
I studied abroad for two semesters during my time at Fairfield. First in Florence, Italy in the Bellarmine Scholar program as a sophomore in Fall 2017 and then again as a junior, I spent Spring 2019 abroad in Sydney, Australia.
How did your study abroad experience influence your career path?
Studying abroad at an age younger than most (first semester of sophomore year), gave me the confidence I needed to pursue a career in the industry I was most passionate about... travel! This time abroad made me fall in love with different cultures and international education, and inspired me to turn my hobbies and passion into my full-time career. I ended up declaring a second major in International Studies and networking with travel professionals throughout college, which eventually led me to my role today in the study abroad & gap year space at EF Education First.
What’s the most important thing you learned from studying abroad?
Of course studying abroad teaches you about the world around you, but I learned so much about myself during this time. I discovered my passion for traveling to new places and my curiosity about world history and culture. I learned how to care for myself away from home and how to recharge. I started to really believe in myself, and gained confidence that I could get paid to travel the world one day if I worked hard enough.
What are you doing now and how does it relate to your study abroad experience?
I currently work as the Content & Social Media Manager for the Gap Year division at EF Education First. EF is the world's largest international education company and working in the Higher Ed. space, where we send American students abroad for 1-9 months, is the perfect fit for me. Every day, I connect with students around the world to uncover their transformative stories, and curate these experiences to influence others to want their own versions of these stories.
What advice would you give to prospective study abroad students?
If you're considering studying abroad, DO IT! While your semester abroad may only last a few months, the experiences you have and people you meet will continue to impact you for the rest of your life. Mine has, and continues to do so every day... even 5 years later!
