2008 Woodie Awards
Student explores business while studying overseas
Jeanette DiRubba, Reporter
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Campus Life
After experiencing international study and travel, junior Amber Gallagher said her eyes are now opened from the realization that "there are people in other places that walk and talk and breathe just like me."
While most Youngstown State University students experienced rest and relaxation from classes during the winter break, students like Gallagher from the American Marketing Association studied abroad in London, England, and Dublin, Ireland, during the first two weeks of January.
Attorney Larry Zielke said these short two-week travel programs help students realize that more job opportunities are out there beyond Northeast Ohio.
"These programs give students the opportunity to meet with business contacts that I've known for years. These trips help students see that they can have international jobs like I did before I came to teach," said Zielke, management instructor at YSU.
Students had the opportunity to tour different businesses each day of the trip. Some of these businesses included British Petroleum, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Microsoft, the Marriott and Guinness.
Gallagher said trips like these set you above your own competition.
"When applying for a job, you need to have something that stands out about yourself. Now I do have that, and I can hold conversations with other people who have studied abroad, and I have maintained connections with all of the American Marketing Association members," Gallagher said.
Senior Rob Bole said he heard about this international study abroad program through friends in the American Marketing Association who had previously attended. Bole said he thought it would be beneficial to study abroad in London and Dublin.
"I did this because you can't afford not to do it," Bole said. "I would do it again in a minute," he said of the trip.
Gallagher said the trip was beneficial because she was able to apply YSU knowledge outside of the classroom.
"All of my YSU business professors always say to think globally and act locally and push international economy. I never actually got a chance to apply these theories, so I went on this trip and applied what I learned from my marketing classes," she said.
Aside from the business aspect, the students were able to experience the culture of two very different countries.
Senior Stephanie Haschenburger said she was surprised that some stereotypes about other cultures proved true.
"The Irish people really do like to drink! They only sell wine by the bottle. You can't just buy one glass of wine," she said.
Bole said that seeing and experiencing a different culture proved lifestyle differences between countries.
"The European countries only refer to us as 'the States,' and not 'Americans' like we think. The Europeans view all the people in the countries connected to our borders as Americans, and we are just one small portion of that distinction," he said.
While most Youngstown State University students experienced rest and relaxation from classes during the winter break, students like Gallagher from the American Marketing Association studied abroad in London, England, and Dublin, Ireland, during the first two weeks of January.
Attorney Larry Zielke said these short two-week travel programs help students realize that more job opportunities are out there beyond Northeast Ohio.
"These programs give students the opportunity to meet with business contacts that I've known for years. These trips help students see that they can have international jobs like I did before I came to teach," said Zielke, management instructor at YSU.
Students had the opportunity to tour different businesses each day of the trip. Some of these businesses included British Petroleum, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Microsoft, the Marriott and Guinness.
Gallagher said trips like these set you above your own competition.
"When applying for a job, you need to have something that stands out about yourself. Now I do have that, and I can hold conversations with other people who have studied abroad, and I have maintained connections with all of the American Marketing Association members," Gallagher said.
Senior Rob Bole said he heard about this international study abroad program through friends in the American Marketing Association who had previously attended. Bole said he thought it would be beneficial to study abroad in London and Dublin.
"I did this because you can't afford not to do it," Bole said. "I would do it again in a minute," he said of the trip.
Gallagher said the trip was beneficial because she was able to apply YSU knowledge outside of the classroom.
"All of my YSU business professors always say to think globally and act locally and push international economy. I never actually got a chance to apply these theories, so I went on this trip and applied what I learned from my marketing classes," she said.
Aside from the business aspect, the students were able to experience the culture of two very different countries.
Senior Stephanie Haschenburger said she was surprised that some stereotypes about other cultures proved true.
"The Irish people really do like to drink! They only sell wine by the bottle. You can't just buy one glass of wine," she said.
Bole said that seeing and experiencing a different culture proved lifestyle differences between countries.
"The European countries only refer to us as 'the States,' and not 'Americans' like we think. The Europeans view all the people in the countries connected to our borders as Americans, and we are just one small portion of that distinction," he said.
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