Leavey Ambassadors Program Blogs

This past semester I had the pleasure of going on the adventure of a lifetime. On September 1, 2021, I embarked on my journey to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Upon arriving, I was shocked by the transition to city life. Coming from peaceful campus life in Santa Clara, I was overwhelmed with new experiences: I rode the metro to school while people spoke Catalan around me. For me, life had been flipped upside down. Yet, school acted as a constant that kept me steady amid so much change. 

The familiarity of a classroom served as a space for me to get comfortable and dive into my studies. In particular, I enjoyed two classes: International Marketing and Art & Design. In my International Marketing class, we learned about how multinational corporations assess potential markets and expand into them. Through case studies of well-known companies such as Walmart and McDonald’s, we gained a real-world understanding of the successes and failures involved in international business. At the end of the semester, my group led a presentation on how Amazon should strategize for future growth, which proved to be a rewarding learning experience. On the other hand, my Art & Design class nurtured me from a timid artist into a confident drawer, painter, and creative thinker. Between sketchings of the city, our class ventured out on field trips to the National Museum of Catalan Art and the Pablo Picasso Museum. Over the course of those few months, my art appreciation grew significantly, unlocking a new personal passion. 

As I come back to Santa Clara, I realize that I have learned to appreciate the importance of finding intriguing courses that engage both my mind and spirit. Regardless of how hectic my life can be, when the center of my efforts is of interest, I am primed for success. That being said, I look forward to returning to in-person classes in Leavey that will continue to push me academically and personally.