Students Study Abroad

Carla Conant is just one of the many students that are currently studying abroad. (Study abroad is required for those majoring in International Business and Economics) The following are just some of the reasons Carla chose International Business as her major and how/why it will benefit her in the future.

Why did you choose to major in International Business?

I chose International Business because I have a desire to travel around the world and get paid for it at the same time! Also, the whole world is becoming "globalized". There is a McDonald's serving Coca-Cola in every village and every corner that I have traveled to. That just shows you that every business, small or large, must face the realities of an expanding target market and be able to deal with global competition. The International Business major at Mount Union is preparing me to be able to deal with those issues when I enter the business world.

How do you think studying abroad will help you in the future?

There are so many positive aspects to study abroad that they can't all be listed here, but I will try to point out the major ones. First, society is based on culture. Everyone feels that what they do (i.e. dating, food, clothes) is "normal". It is not until you immerse yourself into another culture that you realize that what you are doing is not "normal" but taught to you by your culture. When you can understand and embrace these differences, it makes you a more tolerant person. Second of all, it is a challenge that makes you a stronger person. Here, every little thing is like a big accomplishment. I will never forget ordering my first pizza from Pizza Hut over the phone to be delivered to the apartment (all in Spanish of course) and having it delivered successfully. I felt like I had just climbed a mountain! The third thing is that your language skills improve immensely! You can't say that you speak a language fluently unless you've lived in a country where that language is spoken. I've learned more here in 2 months than I have in 8 years in the classroom. Finally, it is a ton of fun! Being in Europe, travel is easy. I have been to Paris, Madrid, and Bordeaux and for spring break I will go to Italy. The clubs here are awesome, bars are open all night (no drinking age) and I live right on the beach. Not to mention, I've met some really cool people. And one more thing, on a sadder note, I've gotten to experience the war from another country. Looking at it from the outside, I've experienced a completely different perspective on the war with Iraq. Overall I must say that I have gained independence and maturity from finding my way around another country as well.

Why should someone choose International Business as a major?

As an international business major, it is required to minor in a foreign language (which will make you highly desirable when you enter the work force) and study abroad one semester (which I've already told you how awesome that is). It is the best major for someone who wants a lot of options when they graduate. If I want to go into business I can, if I want to travel the world or work in Spain I can, if I want to go on to grad school and get a degree in education, I could be a Spanish teacher. If I wanted to teach English to Spanish-speaking children in Puerto Rico, I could do that. If I wanted to go on and get a law degree I could go into International Law. Well, you get the idea. I'll never be stuck in one spot.

For more information on Study Abroad: Click Here