Hi! My name is Julia Meyer and I am currently an undergraduate student at Northern Illinois University. In addition to my major in accounting, I am also working towards a minor in social entrepreneurship as well as a minor in business analytics. I recently attended the Summer Europe Seminar with IBS. This was my first seminar and my first time abroad! Now that I’ve studied abroad I can definitely say that I’ve caught the “travel bug” and can’t wait to travel again! When I’m not in class or traveling I love spending time with my friends as well as spending time outside. I love hiking, camping, and generally just being adventurous. I’m incredibly excited to be an IBS Alumni Ambassador and can’t wait to help other people have the same great experience with IBS that I did!
Hear more directly from Julia:
If you had 60 seconds to convince a friend to attend an IBS program, what would you say?
Just go! Never in your life will you have an experience like this or be able to visit so many amazing countries and cities in so little time. IBS allows you to have an insider’s account on many different companies and it’s a great way to travel, learn more about international business, and make friends. This trip is not something you’ll forget quickly!
Did you develop or improve any qualities or skills during the seminar? If so, what were they and how did they develop/improve?
During my Summer Europe Seminar, I think the biggest skill I developed was how to come out of my shell and form friendships with people who are different from me! And this doesn’t only include locals from the countries we visited. Even within the seminar group, there were people from all over the United States, and regional differences can be just as prominent as national differences! I loved meeting everyone and getting to know them over the course of the seminar. I also learned how to try new things. For example, paragliding! I was really nervous about doing this but in the end, it is an experience I would 100% repeat! While traveling I really learned to make the most of the opportunities presented to me as well as the importance of being present in every moment of the trip.
What was it like meeting and traveling with a group of people you didn’t know beforehand?
Traveling with a group of people I didn’t know was both a little scary and rewarding. Personally, I’m a bit more on the introverted side, so traveling with a group of strangers was intimidating to me at first—especially having to navigate the airport by myself! The thought of getting on a flight without knowing anyone can be scary but don’t let that hold you back. And don’t let the fear of not knowing anyone hold you back either. Upon arriving everyone was super friendly and eager to make friends. Plus, you’re in an exciting new place, with lots of new things to talk about and experience together. At the start of the three weeks, we were all strangers, but at the end, we were all hugging each other goodbye at the airport. It’s amazing how traveling can bind people of all different backgrounds together.
If you have any questions email me at: z1788125@students.niu.edu