Semester in Antwerp
Spring 2025Study Abroad - Antwerp, Belgium
I had the opportunity to complete my College of Business COB 300 program abroad in Antwerp, Belgium. It ended up being way more impactful than I ever expected. While there, I took the core four business courses in finance, operations, management, and marketing, along with a European business class that allowed me to earn a concentration in European Business.
Outside the classroom, studying abroad gave me the chance to fully experience a new culture and way of life. Living in a historic city like Antwerp, trying new foods, meeting people from all over the world, and traveling across Europe pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. What started as a semester focused on academics quickly turned into something much bigger.
One of the most valuable parts of the program was seeing how business connects to global issues, especially through experiences like sustainability-focused coursework and working with people from different cultural backgrounds. It gave me a new perspective on how business operates on an international level and opened my mind to new career paths.
More than anything, this experience helped me grow as a person. Being in a completely new environment forced me to become more independent, open, and confident. I learned a lot about how I approach new situations, how I connect with others, and how to embrace uncertainty instead of over-planning. Studying abroad did not just change how I see the world, it changed how I see myself, and that is something I will carry with me moving forward.
AcademicsIn the Classroom
In the classroom, my favorite courses were marketing and operations. This was the semester where I really discovered my interest in marketing and realized it is what I want to pursue. I enjoyed operations because it came naturally to me, especially the analytical and data-driven aspects.
I also really liked the European business course. We learned about how the European Union operates and how business is conducted across different countries. One of the highlights was taking field trips to Brussels, where we visited EU institutions and saw firsthand how everything functions on a global level.
Another standout experience was I-Week. I was placed in a group with students from different countries, and we worked together on a sustainability project. It was a great opportunity to collaborate across cultures and perspectives, and we presented our work to other international groups and professors at the end of the week.
Overall, I really valued my academic experience abroad. The structure was different from what I was used to, with longer class days and grades based mainly on midterms and finals. Even so, it pushed me to stay disciplined and adapt to a new learning environment, which made the experience even more rewarding.