After reaching the halfway point of my college career, I felt unsure of my true professional goals. I lacked direction and was unable to apply my education to real-world experience. However, it turned out that all I needed to do was look at my career through an international lens. While visiting Europe with my classmates, I was inspired to learn from other cultures, showcase my education to internationally recognized business leaders, and make lasting connections from around the world.

While on the program, my first surprise was how quickly I connected with each member of my group. I was initially nervous to travel with a group I hadn’t met before, but I actually connected with most of my group before even getting on the plane! Though I’ve heard of students feeling isolated on study abroad programs, I was fortunate to be a part of an incredibly kind, welcoming group that made my program delightful!

One of my favorite memories of the program was visiting Google’s London headquarters. Though Google is a massive global company, I was excited to discover that our company speakers were Michigan State alumni, each having grown up less than an hour away from my hometown! They learned from my professors, ate at my dining halls, and went to the same sporting events! This made their presentation feel incredibly personable, and I was incredibly fortunate to have learned from them.

Though I lived on a different continent, surrounded by skyscrapers and iconic global landmarks, I felt closer to MSU than ever before! I immersed myself in the culture of a new environment, while combining my passion for education with my interest in traveling. Though I hadn’t considered working abroad before my international experience, applying my education to international businesses helped me realize that working abroad is incredibly exciting and fulfilling. I am forever thankful to the Broad College for allowing me to represent them on this program, and excited to take my new international lens with me back to MSU and beyond!

Name: Jake Nachman
Status: Junior
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Walled Lake, Michigan
Program: International Business Studies in Europe