Meet Eli Hill
Program/Term
Global Leadership Minor, in partnership with the Shelton Leadership Center, Spring 2024
Major/College
Business Administration, Poole College of Management
Why did you choose to study abroad?
u0022The opportunity to learn in three different countries was very attractive to me and introduced me to various learning styles. u0022
I chose the Global Leadership Minor study abroad program because I wanted to be part of a small, tight-knit group. Living and learning with 15 other NC State Students presented a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people. Traveling, taking classes, and working with local students in different countries gave me so many new perspectives. The opportunity to learn in three different countries was very attractive to me and introduced me to various learning styles. Plus, the convenience of completing a minor in one semester was a big bonus. I knew this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it was worth it.
What surprised you most about your time abroad?
The learning style was very different from the usual lecture based approach we are used to. Each class was centered around discussions and exercises, focusing on how the content would impact our daily lives and future careers. In Prague, we collaborated with a local university that has an entrepreneurial focus, where students create their own businesses instead of just attending lectures to learn. I also enjoyed the one-class-at-a-time structure, which made balancing coursework and being abroad much easier and allowed for full focus on the class and topics we were taking at the time.
u0022Living and learning with such a tight-knit group of people made a big impact.u0022
What was your favorite place(s) that you visited?
My favorite place the program took us was Nice, France. Seeing the ocean after being in Prague and Germany was incredibly nice, and I appreciated the greenery in the city. We happened to catch Carnival so that provided a lot of fun for us! We even spent a day learning about sustainable leadership at a fort on an island off of Cannes, which was super cool! Another highlight was when a group of us traveled to Turkey during one of our breaks. We rode horses, saw hot air balloons, underground cities and visited the Wall of Constantinople. It was fascinating to experience a different culture and way of life!
Tell us about one or some of the friendships that you made during your program.
A huge outcome of this program for me was the friendships and relationships I formed. Living and learning with such a tight-knit group of people made a significant impact. Having fun, engaging in discussion-based learning, and exploring sights together was time that I greatly valued. At the end of the program, we each reflected on how the experience would impact us moving forward, and I found that reflection fascinating for each person. We all still talk very regularly and I’m happy to have had this experience with such a great group of people!
Tell us about one of your favorite memories from your time abroad.
Some of my favorite memories came from the group meals. We would go out a few times in each city with the local students we were working with, which was an excellent opportunity to connect and learn about each other’s cultures. It was valuable bonding time, and I feel great memories were made from that. Food is culture! In Prague, we had a particularly fun time getting Popeyes with our Czech Dormmates. It was a fun time for us to wind down, discuss our personal lives, and have a good time, just like we would in Raleigh. Also, the GLM Scavenger Hunt in Prague was one of my favorite exercises.
This post was originally published in NC State European Center in Prague.
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