Liberal Arts Major(s): Economics
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

What was the best part of your experience?

The best part of my experience was being able to meet people all over Europe. I love to meet new people and that is a reason for me to study abroad in the first place. Europe is a continent with so many different histories, countries, and ethnicities. In Barcelona alone there were so many different cultures and people. I was also able to travel to other countries in Europe and talk to natives from there. While studying abroad I loved talking and connecting with new people all over the world and being able to understand where they came from. It was an unbelievable experience.

While studying abroad I loved talking and connecting with new people all over the world and being able to understand where they came from

How did this experience impact you academically?

Academically, this experience was amazing. I was able to really dive into research more focused on Spain and Europe specifically. While there are Penn State courses that discuss some of the things I learned, they don't have classes that completely focus on it. For example, I took a class on Spain's economic development and the EU. I found this class very interesting, and it was one of my favorite courses. I also took a crime course that focused on European crime and punishment. I learned so much about how different the law systems are in Europe than in the United States.

How will this experience impact your career goals?

This experience was unbelievable for my career goals. I was able to travel Europe and see so much. I was able to experience cultures and pick up some language. This trip helped me see that starting a career and living in one of these cities I visited would be amazing. This trip also helped me become more comfortable in uncomfortable situations. This will help me in the future when during my career I must succeed in an awkward situation.