Welcome to my virtual playhouse typing to you halfway across
the globe in Firenze, Italia! My name is Elizabeth, but call me Eli. As a
fifth-year business student anticipating the bittersweet commencement in a couple
of short months, chances are I might have sat next to you in an accounting or
finance class; I may have reviewed your résumé or cover letter at Mihaylo
Career Services; maybe I struck a conversation with you in the infamous
Starbucks line, or I may have given you one too many Campus Special coupon
books. Whatever the case may be, I hope you find as much joy and inspiration in
my posts as I do in these 102.4 kilometers that Google Maps calls Florence.
Deciding to study abroad during the last semester of my
undergraduate career was risky and scary, but someone had to do it. I committed
to the next four months of a lifetime with the Global Student Experience
program at CSUF which provides housing, tuition, several day and overnight
trips to destinations throughout Italy and unlimited access to all the great
museums throughout Florence. Travels to Rome, Viareggio, and Cinqueterre are
led by on-site director Chiara, who quickly became one of my favorite aspects
of the program. My traditional apartment (complete with adorable window
shutters and oversized mosquitos) sits in the heart of Florence, about a
two-minute walk from the historic Duomo, Piazza de la Republica, the Ponte
Vecchio, and two Zara stores. My usual walk to class through the Mihaylo
Foyer and past the Mihaylo statue has been replaced with a casual walk past a
400-year-old architecturally innovative church and countless historical
renaissance statues…I’m sure Mr. Mihaylo would approve of this new route to
class.
Now, I’m halfway through the semester, satisfying my last
global business course requirement and taking a few exciting business fashion
courses to completely satisfy my interests. Just as with all matters in life, I
wanted my experience to be specific, memorable and purpose driven so I set a
few goals which can be summed up in two general yet important words:LEARN and
NETWORK.
LEARN: I truly believe in the significance of a
multi-dimensional and global education. We’re all at MCBE for several reasons:
to eventually get a job, to join clubs and attend workshops, and of course, to
enjoy free pizza and ask Dean Puri a meaningful question during the annual Meet
the Dean event. Most importantly, students should have one main priority: to
learn. The art of learning has so much value and is often overlooked. Whether
I’m learning in the classroom in another country, picking the brain of these
insightful professors during a coffee break, or reading an interesting article
found in The Economist, learning takes many different forms and I hope to
continue this great habit even after earning that “A” in MGMT 449.
NETWORK: As a business student, if this hasn’t been drilled
in that analytical and creative brain of yours, I’m here to remind you the
importance of networking and building a brand for yourself. I have met so many
interesting and industry relevant individuals in my short time here; it’s both
exhausting and exciting. Just like learning, networking comes in many forms,
whether it starts with a random conversation at a café or a formal classroom
trip to a nearby boutique, as long as one in curious, willing to listen, and
believe, he or she can add value to the conversation, welcome networking with a
listening ear and an open mind.
I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences and overall
impressions of my travels abroad. On that note, keep this in mind, future
business leaders of the world: Unlike that $5 mocha frapp, traveling is the
only thing you buy that makes you richer. Sounds like a pretty
attractive ROI to me.
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