Meet Tres Seippel, Prague Alumn’08

In this feature, Tres shares his journey of stepping outside his comfort zone and facing the challenges of living in a foreign city back in 2008, without the modern comforts of smartphones and laptops. The significant impact his time in Prague had on his understanding of design and the world around him is evident. From unforgettable classes on Czech literature to deep connections with professors and fellow students, Tres’s story exemplifies the invaluable lessons that study abroad programs offer, underscoring that the experience goes far beyond the classroom.

Program/Term

Landscape Architecture Program, Spring 2008

What motivated you to study abroad in Prague?

As a landscape architecture student, studying abroad was a degree requirement, which certainly helped me sell the idea to my parents. It was my first time in Europe, and I was excited about a new culture and the fact that the beer was both good and cheap! More importantly, it was an opportunity for me to step completely out of my comfort zone and learn to be myself. Having never left the U.S. or even traveled north of Washington, D.C. at that point, Prague offered a chance to truly be “on my own” and immerse myself in something entirely new. I’m not saying I wasn’t nervous, but at this pivotal point in my life, I was given the chance to try something completely new, out of my comfort zone, and it was exactly what I needed.

How did your experience in Prague differ from studying on campus?

My experience in Prague was a complete departure from studying on campus in Raleigh because at home, I had familiar campus life routines. In Prague, daily life was a constant learning curve. The initial differences were that I took the metro to school from Vinohrady every day, navigating public transportation. I also returned to sharing a room, which I hadn’t done since my freshman year of college. The most significant difference was the language barrier. I didn’t speak Czech, and fluent English speakers were less common than I expected in 2008. Without smartphones or GPS, I had to develop a mental map of the city’s layout, which I needed to recall at all hours of the day and night. Navigating Prague’s streets and public transport, especially with metro lines closing overnight and infrequent night trams, required a whole new level of independence and skill.

“Without smartphones or GPS, I had to develop a mental map of the city’s layout, which I needed to recall at all hours of the day and night.”

Academically, the dynamic was uniquely intimate. We lived, ate, and even had beers with our professors. People like Art Rice (Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning), Fernando Magallanes (Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning), Dana Bartelt (, and Anaël Symůnková transitioned from advisors/instructors to genuine friends and mentors, actively shaping us as designers and individuals. Personally, one of the biggest challenges was overcoming FOMO back home due to the significant time difference. This taught me the invaluable lesson of prioritizing quality and intention over quantity when it came to maintaining connections; I had to make a real effort to speak with friends and family.

“One of the biggest challenges was overcoming FOMO back home due to the significant time difference. This taught me the invaluable lesson of prioritizing quality and intention over quantity when it came to maintaining connections; I had to make a real effort to speak with friends and family.”

Which course has impacted you the most?

The course that had the biggest impact on me was Czech Literature. While I also took design courses, the insights gained from Czech Literature significantly informed my responses as a design student to the new environment I was in, because it was more than a literature course, it was a culture course. This class was an incredible blend of literature, history, and on-site urban exploration. It was in this course that I was introduced to Milan Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” a book that resonated deeply and one I still quote today.

Beyond the reading, we actively toured the city, connecting the literary themes with Prague’s recent political history, particularly the Velvet Revolution. This experiential learning brought the abstract concepts of “lightness” and “heaviness” to life in the very streets we walked. Our professor, a punk rock singer, was particularly impactful. Her immense passion for Prague and its intricate history was infectious and has made Prague one of my favorite cities in the world, even to this day.

“Beyond the reading, we actively toured the city, connecting the literary themes with Prague’s recent political history, particularly the Velvet Revolution. This experiential learning brought the abstract concepts of “lightness” and “heaviness” to life in the very streets we walked.”

Did you make lasting friendships or professional connections during your time in Prague? If so, how have they impacted your life or career?

I made some incredibly lasting friendships during my time in Prague. The bonds formed by going somewhere new, living and learning together, undoubtedly tie you together. It was a unique form of growth and experiential bonding. A strong bond still today is with my classmate, Emily Cheng. While we no longer live in the same place, we make a consistent effort to see each other as often as possible. Our continued friendship perfectly illustrates the principle I learned in Prague: quality over quantity when it comes to relationships. 

Living alongside our professors also had a unique effect; their mentorship and the casual, shared experiences helped me mature significantly, making me feel more “adult” and prepared for the next steps in life. These relationships are a cherished outcome of my time abroad.

“As a landscape architecture student with a passion for history, Prague Castle was always an exciting destination.”

What were some of your favorite places to visit in Prague, and why?

As a landscape architecture student with a passion for history, Prague Castle was always an exciting destination. As an American, it’s wild to think of living in the same place as a building from the late 9th century. However, some of my favorite times were at Vyšehrad. It’s the lesser-visited and older seat of the princes and a quiet spot in the busy city, offering stunning views of the castle and the Vltava River and sitting near the statue of Libušeis a powerful and vivid memory of mine. Two additional central locations that I also loved visiting were Kampa Island and Petřín Hill, situated right in the heart of the city, with strong connections to the history and the river.

How has your time in Prague impacted your career path or life choices since then?

My time in Prague had a profound impact on both my career and life choices. The experience directly pushed me to pursue my master’s degree in Europe, where I studied International Real Estate and Planning at University College London. In fact, some of my research papers even involved comparative analysis of Czech planning policy and the environmental impacts of Soviet farming practices on the planning system, a clear callback to my affinity for Prague. More broadly, studying in Prague ignited a desire to live in a dense urban center, which led me to move to New York City almost 15 years ago.

“My time in Prague had a profound impact on both my career and life choices. The experience directly pushed me to pursue my master’s degree in Europe, where I studied International Real Estate and Planning at University College London.”

Today, I work in housing development and construction financing, and my time in Prague completely reframed my perspective on the field. Being immersed in a new culture and language forced me to look beyond my own lived experiences. It taught me that to be an effective developer, you have to prioritize the end user, the person who will actually inhabit the space. This means understanding how they interact with their environment, what their needs are, and designing for them, not for yourself. This crucial lesson has shaped how I approach every project, focusing on empathy and true understanding to create meaningful spaces for people from all walks of life.

Beyond my career, Prague fundamentally shaped my outlook on life. It solidified my love for travel and exploration, even though the “no plan” approach I took when leaving for Prague would scare me today! While I’m now much more organized and planned, that initial leap of faith instilled a deep sense of confidence.

Perhaps the most important thing I gained was a much clearer idea of who I was. Being “on my own” in an unfamiliar place, living with new people, making new friends, attempting a new language, and exploring a whole new world forced me to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I returned from Prague with a fresh outlook on who I could be and an understanding that I was still the same person, but now with a stronger purpose and a greater sense of self.

This post was originally published in NC State European Center in Prague.