Grant Thatcher is a senior majoring in studio art and minoring in agribusiness. He studied abroad in Ireland through the Arcadia Abroad Dublin Internship Program in the summer of 2024.
What made your study abroad experience memorable?
The two things that made my study abroad experience memorable were the people I met both local to Ireland and during my study abroad program and the beautiful scenery! I was surprised by some of the things I learned about life in Ireland from the people I talked to. During the welcome boat tour we got see the beautiful islands off the coast of Howth. Some wild sea lions got really close to our boat!
What have learned about yourself from this experience?
At my internship I learned about what kind of work environment I work best in, as I had the option to work remotely or in the office. I also gained some perspective on the significance of United States to Ireland and other countries in Europe.
What advice do you have for students interested in studying abroad?
Definitely plan it out two semesters before you plan on going! I applied for the summer 2024 study abroad program during the spring 2024 semester, and since I was very busy with other things, I didn't do thorough research into the countries or study abroad programs. I'm very happy with my choice of the study abroad program and country, but it would've been a great to do the research so I know what activities I wanted to do in Ireland and be more aware of what to expect.
