Born and raised in a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, my upbringing was different from that of many, travel included. Being in such a rural area, airports were far and therefore, the opportunity to travel was too. My sister and I grew up going to a shopping mall on spring breaks because they were far enough that it was a special treat to go to one, in fact, traveling to see family in Macomb, Michigan, on holidays is about the furthest we made it growing up. Furthermore, I was one of ten in my graduating class of 48 to go to a four-year university, and one of four that went below the Mackinaw Bridge for school. The idea of traveling overseas is one that I hadn’t dreamed of before coming to Michigan State.

On May 7, 2023, I boarded a plane out of Detroit with 21 other Spartans, who, at the time, were strangers to me. Fast forward to the night of May 20, I was in the lobby of our hotel in Paris, in tears as I said goodbye to some of the greatest people I’ve yet to meet in my life – people I consider best friends.

Through the International Business Studies in Europe program, I was able to spend a week in London, followed by a week in Paris, learning about international business and marketing through company visits with Leo Burnett, Google, EY, The International Chamber of Commerce, and others. Educationally, this experience truly opened my eyes to the possibilities that exist in my degree, on an international level. It opened doors of curiosity, expanded my range of knowledge in the marketing industry, and gave me newfound excitement as I approached my senior year.

Personally, this experience was one of extraordinary self-growth for me as an individual. While it opened my eyes to many things within my degree and education, it also opened my eyes to the world that is around me and the many opportunities that exist. Traveling with strangers and creating bonds with them, experiencing new cultures, getting a greater understanding of how other cultures live, and improving my personal ability to communicate and interact with others, are just a few of the noted lessons I learned in my time abroad.

In what my peers and I coined as a “successful social experiment,” not only did this study abroad experience heighten my understanding of international business, but it also opened the door to new friendships, self-exploration, and self-growth.

Now in my senior year at Michigan State, I have a whole new perspective on relationships, classes, my degree, and my future. Going abroad put life on a far bigger platter than it had been on previously and because of this, I have entered my senior year with grander ambition and a wider range of options for my future. Studying abroad has undoubtably been one of my best decisions to date in my college career at Michigan State University and will be something that I carry with me forever as I pursue my professional career as well as grow in my personal life. Go Green Forever.

Name: Anna Malmquist
Status: Senior
Majors: Marketing and Human Capital & Society
Hometown: Iron River, Michigan
Program: International Business Studies in Europe