By: Megan Martin ’27, staff writer
LVC offers a wide range of international summer programs, as well as semester-long terms.
A few of the short-term programs provided this past summer took place in Perugia, Italy; Maastricht, Netherlands; and Costa Rica. Katie Muller, Jake Erb and Shelly Bliss have provided their own insight on how their experiences have given them the chance to grow both personally and academically.
Muller, a junior majoring in business administration and marketing, who attended the Maastricht trip, has found that she has had experiences abroad that she couldn’t have had at LVC.
“Studying abroad allowed me to gain valuable insight into international business and cultural differences firsthand,” Muller said. “The knowledge I gained will allow me to better understand business practices on a global scale, which is something that I would have never fully grasped within the classroom.”
Erb, a business administration major, has altered his perspective on cultures during his time in Perugia.
“Studying abroad in Perugia made me fully realize how different cultures can really be,” Erb said. “My experience abroad not only made me more aware of my own culture, but also excited me to one day experience more cultures around the world.”
Bliss, an exercise science major, has found her experience in Costa Rica to align with her professional skills.
“My four weeks in Costa Rica allowed me to become fully immersed in both the Spanish language and Latin culture, which provides a great experience to connect with patients in the field of physical therapy,” Bliss said. “I earned six credits to help fulfill my minor in Applied Spanish for Healthcare Professionals, but beyond that, I gained immense confidence in my communication skills and intercultural competence.”
Through these study abroad opportunities, students can earn academic credits while learning valuable lessons and creating lifelong memories.
mrm013@lvc.edu