From Studying Abroad to Landing Your Dream Career
L&LI Alumni have a diverse range of experiences and stories, but we often hear from our students that they learned something about themselves during their time abroad that impacted the trajectory of their academic or professional careers. It all starts with saying yes to a study abroad and diving into the experience.
How do you know if studying abroad is for you?
Deciding to study abroad is a big decision, and for Abby and Jenny, it wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment choice. Abby knew from high school that she wanted to study abroad, and as soon as she arrived at Vanguard University, she walked into the Study Abroad office as a freshman and began planning her experience. Initially, she thought she would study elsewhere, but after a conversation with her advisor, she realized the Ecuador program was the perfect fit for her academically and personally.
Jenny, on the other hand, heard about studying abroad as a 16-year-old at a summer camp in Papua New Guinea. It wasn’t until years later that she reconnected with a Ashleigh, an L&LI team member, on her campus and made the decision to study abroad in Ecuador. For Jenny, this decision brought unexpected surprises, including spending a semester with her cousin and making meaningful connections that continue to impact her life today.
Both Abby and Jenny found that their decisions to study abroad were deeply rooted in a desire for cultural immersion and personal growth. Abby says the community she encountered in Ecuador was "so intense and radical" and helped her feel comfortable, largely thanks to the Resident Coordinator, Meg, who brought so much of herself into the space. Jenny, too, felt a deep sense of purpose during her time abroad, describing her semester as a time of discovering meaning and significance.
Does studying abroad impact your future career?
For both Abby and Jenny, studying abroad played a role in shaping their careers. Abby reflected, "If I hadn’t studied abroad, I wouldn’t be the person I am today." It wasn't just the academic experiences that changed her—it was the cultural immersion and the sense of community that helped her develop new perspectives and skills.
Abby is now living and working full time in Quito, Ecuador. She and her husband serve as Resident Directors with the Living & Learning International program in Ecuador.
Interested in joining the Living & Learning Team like Abby did? We hire seasonally for Resident Coordinators; these and all other open positions are kept up to date on our careers page!
Jenny’s career trajectory was also influenced by her time in Ecuador. While abroad, she worked with Casa Mis Sueños, a nonprofit that “raises a voice for justice in favor of people, and their families, who have been victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking in Ecuador.” In this role, she was able to use her skills in content creation for their social media channels, help the organization with their fundraising initiatives, and more. This hands-on experience provided her with essential skills in communications and nonprofit work.
After graduating from Cornerstone University, Jenny landed a job coordinating embassy events, and she later secured a position as Communications Coordinator for the Do Good Institute at the University of Maryland.
Jenny also emphasized the financial benefits of studying abroad, noting that her semester in Ecuador ended up being "the cheapest semester of my college career." The connections she made while abroad—including those with the embassy in Ecuador—helped pave the way for future opportunities in her career.
Want to Hear More About Abby’s and Jenny’s Experiences?
Abby and Jenny’s stories are rich with personal growth, adventure, and career development—and they aren’t the only L&LI alumni with stories like this. Abby’s experience in Ecuador was life-changing, from the challenges of leaving her family to the deep connections she built within the community. For Jenny, her semester abroad brought unexpected joys, such as spending time with her cousin, as well as spiritual and professional growth. As she says, “I had no idea when I decided to study abroad that it would have an impact on the rest of my life.”
If you want to hear more about their journeys and how studying abroad impacted both their personal and professional lives, tune in to their podcast episodes. Abby and Jenny’s stories are a testament to the transformative power of studying abroad—not just during college, but for years to come.