Majors: Labor & Employment Relations and Theatre Studies
Minor: Economics
Hometown: Ningbo, China

How did you learn about this opportunity?

Theatre Academy London is a required study abroad program for BA Theatre Studies students, so I was told about it when I decided to add theatre studies as my second major.

Tell us a little bit about your experience.

I've never lived in a big city before so this was a great experience and helped me decide that I would enjoy living in a big city in the future. London is different in many ways from my experience studying in the United States, from afternoon tea to British accents. I also got to meet new friends from other universities and to experience European culture. I really appreciate the opportunity I had to be a part of the program and am truly grateful for the enrichment funding I received from College of the Liberal Arts.

How did this experience impact you academically?

Spending a whole semester learning about theatre in one of the theatre centers in the world, the home of Shakespeare, was the best thing I could ask for. I got to learn theatre not only from taking classes, but also from going to performances. I feel I've learned so much, both as a student and a person during this experience. Many people thought my majors (Labor & Employment Relations and Theatre) are totally unrelated. But I think studying theatre has provided me with opportunities to work with people from different backgrounds, which will help me in my LER classes and be useful in my future career.

What are your career goals and plans?  How did this experience impact them?

I intend to look for a career that is related to both of my majors in a field like HR or general management in nonprofit organizations or the performing arts. This experience helped me realize that I love the dynamics of big cities and I would like to work in a big city in the future. As I just graduated, I don't want to limit myself, so I will be open to all the opportunities I have.