Location: Barcelona, Spain
I interned and studied in Barcelona, Spain this summer through Lehigh Business School's Tauck scholarship program. I chose to go to Barcelona because I thought it was a great opportunity to expand my cultural perspective and gain experience in international business. In addition, I am interested in the Spanish culture and hoped to practice my use of the Spanish language. I was excited to challenge myself by living with a host family in an unknown environment, exploring a new city, and meeting new people both from Lehigh and Spain. I interned at a global business school called GBSB Global and worked with a consulting team to implement an entrepreneurship program for startups in Barcelona.
When I was being recruited, Lehigh stood out to me because of the option to study abroad during the summer. This was an important factor in my decision to come to Lehigh. With the pandemic the last few years, I am very thankful to have pursued this experience and would definitely recommend it.
Three Highlights of My Trip:
- The cultural immersion of living with a host family/experiencing traditions, and values, and food different than in the United States.
- Meeting new friends and having new connections with people I traveled with from Lehigh as well as people in Spain.
- Getting to know Spain by exploring Barcelona during the week and traveling to new cities on the weekend.
Two Things I Learned About Myself:
- I am able to grow and build long lasting relationships in environments outside of my comfort zone.
- I want to continue to travel after college, and pursue a career that involves international traveling as it has broadened my perspective of the world
I am super grateful that the Lehigh Women's Basketball team allowed me to gain international experience this summer while being a D1 athlete. My abroad experience was extremely formative to my personal and business development. Having time away from training and basketball will allow me to step into this fall/season with a fresher mindset.
It has given me perspective on the importance of developing as a person in addition to developing as a basketball player. It has also shown me all there is to see in the world, and the opportunities that are waiting for us as Lehigh graduates. I was concerned at first about missing workouts/trainings but the experiences and memories I made is something that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.
