january - april 2025
semester in antwerp
I spent the spring 2025 semester living and studying in Antwerp, Belgium! I went on the COB 300 study abroad program through JMU. Fun fact: this program was actually one of the reasons I decided to come to college here!
I took four integrated business courses from University of Antwerp faculty (Marketing, Management, Operations, and Finance), as well as a fifth class called COB 301: European Integration, Culture and History to earn a concentration in European Business to my degree. It was an academically challenging semester, but I worked hard to earn a 4.0 semester GPA. As part of COB 301, we were fortunate to go on field trips around Belgium to visit various businesses and political institutions. You can view my story map below to see where I went and what I learned!
One of my favorite parts about visiting the University of Antwerp was the International Week on Sustainability. Students flew in from around the world to participate in hands-on workshops, seminars, and a case project, with the goal of using international teamwork to solve sustainability issues. To learn more, watch this video about our Interdisciplinary Day, or you can view my group's case study project.
Skills & Perspectives I Brought Home:
- Stronger sense of identity and independence
- Adaptability in fast-changing environments
- Connection across language and cultural barriers
- Global perspective on everyday decisions
- Resourcefulness and problem-solving
- Intentional time management
- Curiosity and openness to new perspectives
