宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 student Mariam Narimanidze's study abroad experience impacted all areas of her life and led her to refine her 个人 and professional goals.
阿宾顿,爸爸. — 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 senior Mariam Narimanidze spent the spring semester studying in Paris, a goal that was fulfilled thanks to almost $20,000 in scholarships she received through support from the Office of Global Programs 在阿宾顿 宾州州立大学全球.
很多人都是这样 first-generation college students 在阿宾顿, Narimanidze juggles the responsibilities of assisting her family and working while keeping up with the demands of coursework in the 金融专业.
“A lot of my life in the United States is extremely busy. My parents are immigrants and don’t speak English, so I am helping my parents and siblings quite often. It’s primarily school and my job,” the Northeast Philadelphia resident said.
“I’ve worked in retail and catering, and last year I was a full-time legal assistant at a law firm and attended classes on my breaks,”她说。.
Study abroad appealed to Narimanidze for many reasons including academic, 个人, and professional development.
“I wanted to explore a different part of me without all of the other things going on in my life. I felt completely free while I was in Europe, and I was completely in control of my own life. Study abroad changed my views on everything. It came with its challenges, but I loved it,”她说。.
Study abroad changed my views on everything. It came with its challenges, but I loved it.—Mariam Narimanidze , Senior
Her coursework in Paris included French, 跨文化管理, and international perspectives on business. Academically, the teaching style was very different than in the United States.
“You have to get more involved in the classes, there’s a lot more discussion. But the teachers were also very accommodating and let you combine traveling and studying,Narimanidze说.
As a result of her study abroad, she has refined her career focus.
“I became even more interested in business, and now I’m looking into international business. I want to take what I learned from studying in Paris, and I’m going to look at jobs with companies that are based in France. I want to move to Europe and work there after graduation,”她说。.
Narimanidze faced uncertainties about financing the semester in Paris but discovered that once she applied to the program, she was automatically considered for a variety of scholarships. 工作人员 in Global Programs 在阿宾顿 and University Park provided support.
During the semester, she traveled throughout France to Normandy, Giverny, Nice, and Cannes. And before returning to Philadelphia, she was joined by her sister and a friend on extended visits to several countries including Monaco, 意大利, 和希腊. She wrapped up her explorations by spending the summer in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, where she felt helpless seeing refugees from the war in Ukraine.
关于宾大阿宾顿
宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. 有3个以上,000名学生, 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 24 majors, 本科研究, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.
