Ava Hartman, Business, Technology, and Engineering: The German Way Summer 2024
Studying abroad has significantly impacted my personal perspectives on my academics and my career. I experienced a lot of personal growth after only spending two weeks in Munich. Specifically, I feel that my confidence and level of independence have grown significantly. In terms of my personal goals, I feel motivated to pursue future opportunities that will continue to grow my independence and push me out of my comfort zone.
This trip involved meeting new people every day, navigating a new city with a language barrier, and managing a new, busy schedule on our own. We used public transportation for almost all of our traveling purposes, and this was a challenge to get used to. However, I noticed a significant difference in my level of confidence when it came to navigating the city from the beginning of the trip compared to the end of the trip. Towards the end of the two weeks, I noticed that I was recognizing patterns and schedules with the buses and trains, and I had a good sense of direction when it came to navigating to a certain area of the city.
In addition to navigating the city, we also had a busy schedule to manage. We were experiencing something new every day, which was both an exciting and intimidating concept. With only two weeks to complete a few courses, we were given a lot of information in a short period of time. However, I felt that all of our lectures and class activities were beneficial in teaching us these concepts in a limited timeframe. I thoroughly enjoyed the production simulation activities that we did each week as it gave us an opportunity to work together in teams, and it was highly effective in teaching us about the applications of the concepts that we had talked about in our recent lectures.
Through these different experiences and through learning about a new culture, I feel that my perspectives on my future have changed. I am motivated to pursue more opportunities abroad, and to learn more about different cultures. It was fascinating to explore my major and how it is taught in a different culture, and to learn about the values of the city that influence how the major is perceived. For example, a strong emphasis on sustainability influences the priorities taught in a manufacturing environment. Having this opportunity to learn about my major in a different environment was very beneficial for my understanding of the applications of industrial engineering.
I am excited at the prospect of traveling abroad again, whether it is during school or after. I learned a lot about business and engineering concepts, and the ways that they are influenced by different cultures and societies, and I am grateful for this new, broadened perspective that I have. I look forward to applying this understanding to my future academic courses and job opportunities.
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