Name: Sarah Everhart
Type of Project: Study Abroad
With coursework and cultural experiences in Copenhagen, Denmark and Rotterdam, The Netherlands, I had the opportunity to explore how political, economic, and social institutions implement sustainable business initiatives. This 11-day educational transformational experience gave me hands-on discovery of the latest trends in sustainability through surveying the local business climate and meeting with domestic and multi-national companies in the world’s consistently top-ranked global sustainability indices.
While breaking out of regular academic routine and my small-town mindset, I was able to expand my worldview. As a native to a small, rural community that lacks the richness of diversity, I have a consistent longing to broaden my horizons, expand my comfort zone, and push myself to reach my fullest potential. I love the area in which I was raised, and have some desire to return there again someday. However, my two-stoplight town did not offer many opportunities to widen my cultural perspective, or to grow into the professional leader I feel I have the potential to be. The famous actress, Angelina Jolie once said: “If you don’t get out the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is.” From this study abroad experience, while I learned about sustainability and European culture, I in turn learned more about myself, too.
Transitioning from an “everybody knows everybody” town, to a university of over 60,000 students was rough to say the least. I dealt with extreme homesickness, and by “dealt” I actually mean I went home every single weekend. While that subsided during my sophomore year, I never thought that during my sophomore year I’d also be preparing to take my very first flight, and one that was international at that, all by myself to meet a group of 30 strangers in a foreign country. I returned to the United States with a higher degree of independence, a more open mind, a widened comfort zone, a different sense of money management, countless memories, and a newfound addiction to traveling.
Even within a diverse university like Ohio State, students spend much of their time in their own sheltered community of people that are much like themselves. We surround ourselves with other students who have similar interests and take classes with people who have similar goals as us. Going abroad with students from different majors to learn about a brand new and unfamiliar culture is incomparable to the lives we typically lead in the states. In Copenhagen I saw a different way of doing things. I walked everywhere I needed to go, or rode a bike. I witnessed friends gather in the afternoons every day after work as if it were a weekend here in Columbus. Even though I was visiting a small country with a massive population density, the laid back atmosphere made it seem as if everyone was on vacation. My eyes were opened to a new way of life. I met natives of the land I was touring along with other foreigners which allowed me to learn about my home country from a different viewpoint. For the first time in my life, I had the chance to see America, for all that it is, just as the rest of the world sees it.
Not only did I see a new way of life and a different glimpse of the U.S., I gained a new perspective of money management and the ability to learn without a textbook. Few things have taught me about handling money like going overseas. In addition to preparing and sticking to a budget, I also had to keep up to date with the exchange rates. In places like Denmark, goods are more expensive than they would be in the states so I was forced to make my money go a long way. It’s not as easy to call mom and have her put a few more dollars in your account when you’re in another country. Of course studying abroad is expensive, even with a $2,000 stipend – but I have never met someone who had regrets about spending the money. At the very least, working hard to save up the money to go abroad just makes you appreciate the experience more. You can’t put a price tag on experiential learning. Sure, I can read about Danish designs all I want. However, hearing about it from its creators is way better. Visiting an industrial symbiosis park trumps researching the term any day. Opting for a study abroad course that didn’t even fulfill any college credits was the best learning experience I could have ever paid for.
Studying abroad is a gateway drug, at least, it was for me. I boarded my first flight and made the quirky streets of foreign cities feel like home all within less than two weeks. I tasted foods that I couldn’t pronounce, toured museums I thought I would only ever read about, and explored scenery you’d find in a magazine. I now crave stamps in my passport to relive similar experiences in new places just like a smoker craves nicotine. There really is no turning back after you’ve stepped on foreign land, my life will simply never be the same. The friendship I made on my trip have extended into the new school year and we have already discussed taking on foreign land together again someday soon. I have fallen in love with being abroad and I have fallen hard.
I am thrilled about the expanded comfort zone I have created for myself that will be applicable in my everyday life. I’m a firm believer that comfort zones are most often expanded by discomfort. Immersing myself in a different culture was truly the best way for me to learn about my own culture and grow into the best version of myself. Sure, studying abroad was uncomfortable – but in the best way possible. I had never taken a flight before, let alone by myself. Now, I am searching out my next chance to do so. My confidence is higher, and I think about critical issues, especially those relating to sustainability with an open mind. I grew up and changed in ways that would have not been possible by staying here in Ohio. Additionally, I look forward to applying the knowledge I gained in Denmark and in The Netherlands to my future business career.
An objective for taking this course was to learn how I can put a sustainability agenda into my career as a business professional. Before taking this course, I knew little about the topic of sustainability. Previously, I would have incorrectly used the terms “green” and “sustainable” interchangeably. I was unaware that the subject also embraces economic and social along with environmental components. Because I came into the course so ignorant, my objectives were met beyond my expectations. I now understand that sustainability strategies can be applied to every aspect of business. Sustainability and business have not always been viewed as two things that go together. Too often businesses struggle to enforce measures of sustainability. However, it is vital for business to implement such practices for better performance on multiple levels. After my undergraduate and graduate schooling, I hope to someday lead a successful company. Moreover, this company that I will take pride in will be less likely to succeed if I am not educated on the importance of sustainability. Before my study abroad experience, I had not adapted this train of thought.