My STEP project was a Global Marketing Lab in Taiwan through the Fisher College of Business. We visited Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Over the course of our trip, we got to go on 10 different business visits, network with Ohio State alumni, and explore the culture of the country.
Before we left, I was nervous to go to a different country on the other side of world without any of my friends or family. When I was younger, I would become anxious and worried being away from my parents for too long, and even when I moved out of my parent’s house, it was difficult for me at first. I thought traveling this far would be more difficult, but everyone on this trip made it a lot easier to be away from home. This has made me realize that I am going to be okay wherever I go, and my friends and family are only a phone call away. I had always thought I was going to live in Columbus forever and stay close to home, but I think I am getting more comfortable with the idea of moving away from here and living in a different place in the future. Going forward, I hope to be able to travel more because I really enjoyed this trip. I would definitely be interested in going on another trip through Fisher next year.
In addition to being more open to moving somewhere else in the future, I also learned that it is okay if I don’t know what I want to do after I graduate and that I can try different things. Even when I do have a job after college, I may not be sure of myself and that’s okay too. I learned that even business professionals who have been for working for a while don’t always know what they are doing and just have to try different things. Although most of my life I haven’t known what I want to do in the future, I do know that I want a creative career and we got to see a place where creativity is everywhere.
I really didn’t know the people on this trip before going on it. We did have a class together for seven weeks beforehand, but it was only once a week, so I didn’t know the people too well. There were only 10 of us, but I think that made it easier to get close with one another and get to know each other well. I feared traveling so far without anyone I knew, but everyone on the trip was kind and willing to be a friend. We did everything together, so we had lots of time to talk and be around each other. In addition to our business visits, we went on hikes, sat together on the long bus rides, ate every meal together, and spent our free time with each other.
One of the things I learned after visiting many companies is that not every decision a business makes is calculated. Sometimes they do take risks and try things that they aren’t sure will work. I remember at our visit to Fubon Securities, I asked how they decide which marketing strategies to pursue, and they said they just try things. They aren’t sure if something will work every time, but they try out different strategies and see what works best. Also, at our visit with Kenda Tires we saw that they are struggling a little bit with their marketing. It seems like they have tried some different things, but they haven’t worked out or it’s been hard to measure the effectiveness of their tactics. This makes me feel a little less worried about having a job in the future. I don’t like when I don’t know how to do something and I often don’t feel completely confident in every decision I make, but even business professionals who have worked for decades don’t always know what the best decision is.
My favorite visit of the trip was to Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI). I thought everything they did was really interesting. They have helped to redesign many schools, transportation, and other public spaces in addition to creating many products. Also, their office space was a very creative but casual space. They had lots of art everywhere, a ball pit, a library, a garden, and other things that you wouldn’t see in any other office. I also liked how the room where everyone worked at their desks was open and encouraged a more collaborative and casual environment. I think TDRI had a very clear purpose as everything they do is to help their community and make the world more sustainable. Growing up I loved arts and crafts and was always making things, so I know I want to do something creative in my future career. I would love to work for a similar company because of how creative and inspiring this place was. I know that if I had a job at a place like this, I would really enjoy it and feel like I am making a difference, which can sometimes be hard with a business-related job, but there are jobs that do have an impact on the surrounding community.
The change I have experienced from this trip is valuable because I learned a little more about myself and where I want to end up in the future. I used to be set on staying close by to my family in the same city I grew up in, but I am more open now to living somewhere else. Maybe I will end up staying in Columbus, but I won’t be as scared to let go if that is where my life leads me. This opens me up to more job opportunities and any other travel opportunities that may come my way.
I also have a little more direction on my future career. The thought of having a full-time job where I am expected to have big responsibilities for a company is scary but knowing that I won’t be expected to be perfect calms my nerves a little bit. I won’t know how to do everything, and some things may be trial and error. Even the people working around me won’t know all the answers, so I won’t be alone. I can feel more confident in not knowing the answers in all my pursuits whether that be school or a job, and I can feel confident asking questions. My specialization is Marketing, so all I really know is that I plan to have some sort of marketing position in the future, but I don’t really have a dream job. I know now that I can do something creative in a position with a marketing degree while also making a difference. I want what I do for work to feel important and like I am making a difference, even if it’s small.
