“It was important for me to go abroad because I value new experiences that allow me to grow my comfort zone and to further prepare myself for a career after college. Being abroad allowed me to expand my cultural knowledge and through the program I was enrolled in, I learned key skills that I can apply in my future career to better understand those around me,” reflected community leadership major Adrianna Meyer on the Exploring Systems Leadership in Greece program.
“This was my first time being abroad, so getting to experience it with a great group of peers and professors made this so memorable! Getting to do something like this for the first time in a group made it easy to feel comfortable in a new environment!”
Led by the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, students spend time at the American Farm School in Thessaloniki, where the participate in lectures on agriculture and food production, group dynamics and leadership.
“I learned that I could adapt well to any environment that I am in because I strive to be open-minded and welcoming to new ideas. This made the trip an easy transition from American culture to Greek culture because of the way I was ready to try new things! I also learned that I enjoy being able to see a culture other than my own and try new things whenever I have the chance,” said Meyer.
Outside of the classroom, students visit local markets, cultural sites and food and agricultural facilities in Thessaloniki, Athens, Trikala and Ioannina.
“As I move forward with my future career, I will look back on this experience and recall how my professors taught us the mindsets of a system thinker. I will take this knowledge and apply it to group efforts, working with youth and adults and have a goal of teaching others these habits.”