As you might remember from my first blog post, I spent a year in the IES Beijing study abroad program, which completely immersed me within the Chinese language. In addition to rapidly advancing my language acquisition, the immersion component of my experience in Beijing also greatly advanced my cultural understanding.
When I applied to my program, I really had no idea where I wanted my Chinese to take me. If nothing else, spending time abroad made me realize that I need not limit myself to the United States. There is a vast global job market out there filled with so many opportunities. The problem is not finding a good prospect so much as choosing which one I want. Even facing graduation, I still have a lot of exploring left before I know exactly what I want to do for a career. The only thing I can really say for sure is that I know that China will always be a part of my future.
I came back to the States with so many stories. I’ve met friends that I intend to hold onto for years to come. The people I’ve met and the places I had the chance to go are something that play a big part in who I am today. They will only continue to build upon and help me develop who I am in the future.