Studying Abroad in Spain and How it Changed My Perspective as a Young Marketer

When I was in high school, I had watched my older sister travel abroad during her Junior year to Florence, Italy. As a typical younger sister I wanted to do everything my older sister did, but I understood how the experience changed her in such a deep way. Growing up, I have always been surrounded by Spanish in all levels of my education. I "learned" the culture of different parts of Spanish speaking countries through reading textbooks and watching videos in my classes. Yet while learning about different cultures in school, I have always been used to being around people that were in a lot of ways, similar to me. I felt a desire to be in an environment that was surrounded by people with different backgrounds and stories than me. When I saw the opportunity to go to Madrid, Spain for a semester, I had to take this incredible opportunity through my university.

According to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report (2020), studying abroad increases cultural awareness and adaptability. Additionally, it increases career readiness with employers rating critical thinking and individual management as the most important skills for moving into the workforce in 2025. Employers in the workforce are also seeing an increase in international work experience being an important aspect to hire globally aware employees. In addition, independent research that was conducted by NASFA supports that study abroad increases employability and career skills. The ability to study abroad helps students develop essential skills that employers find valuable such as adaptability and flexibility. Also, being immersed in a foreign language boosts language fluency and a cultural understanding of the environment, which are valuable additions to ones professional "toolbox".

My semester in Spain heavily shapes how I’ll show up as a young professional entering the business world. Being in a foreign country where I am not fluent in their language, I felt a bit of anxiety in many situations. However, I used my problem thinking stills and ability to manage various unknown things to help me through. Spain is a country that prioritizes community: through their long dinners, art, siestas, plazas full of laughter and conversation, and slower mornings. This type of lifestyle is the opposite to one that I have grown up knowing: fast, productivity- driven, and a culture that thrives off individual accomplishments. It felt exciting to me to be in an environment that kept me on my toes and being surrounded by people who are different than I. I had the ability to also travel to various different countries such as France, Rome, Portugal, and Germany.