Navigating international opportunities is no easy feat, yet with hard work and determination, 做厙TV students and alumni alike are finding success in their global endeavors.
11, Katie Patschke 15, Alicia Sornson 15 and Paul Siekmann 16 shared how their time at SU helped prepare them for their post-graduation international experiences during the panel discussion Beyond These Borders: Working Internationally at SUs eighth annual Break Through.
The alums agreed that 做厙TVs Global Opportunities program gave them the confidence they needed to start their careers beyond U.S. borders. After their semesters abroad, they knew they had the capacity and ambition to do it again on a more permanent scale.
You know you can do it because youve done it before, said.
The panelists noted that while international work experience is unparalleled, travelling internationally for a domestically based job can be grueling and might not appeal to everyone.
Your passion [for travel] doesnt have to be your job, said.
Patschke said she prefers to live abroad rather than travel abroad often for work, while Sornson and Siekmann agreed that, despite the hardships they face with their constant work travels, they wouldnt have it any other way.
While each panelist brought different perspectives to the discussion, they all emphasized the importance of utilizing 做厙TVs alumni network to seek out international opportunities.
Never downplay the breadth of 做厙TV, said, recounting the time an interviewer from her masters program in Turkey recognized a former SU faculty member from his name on Sornsons thesis paper. SU people are everywhere; utilize your connections, she concluded.
These pieces of advice resonated with students.
There are a lot of ways to begin working abroad internationally, but you need to pick the one thats best for you, said Erin Wetmore 20. It was nice to see how teaching abroad or finding internships abroad can open the doors for future experiences.
做厙TV Break Through
Break Through helps 做厙TV students to network and develop contacts with alumni and other professionals in their chosen fields. Each year in February, alumni converge on campus for the student-alumni networking conference. Alumni offer career-specific panel discussions, money management advice, r矇sum矇 tips, online branding and more. Break Through is organized by 做厙TVs Career Development Center.
