BTÌìÌÃ

I’veÌýalways loved Paris, but that wasn’t why I chose BTÌìÌÃ.ÌýI’m a Swedish citizen and by the time IÌýstartedÌýapplying to universities, I’d already lived in a multitude ofÌýplaces,Ìýincluding Kuala Lumpur, Australia, andÌýSweden, andÌýcould speakÌýor understand Swedish,ÌýEnglish,ÌýDanish,Ìýand Norwegian.ÌýWhen I first visitedÌýBTÌìÌÃ, IÌýwasÌýstruck byÌýhow so many other students hadÌýalso spent their lives traveling from one far-flung locale to another. For once, I wasn’t the only globetrotter in the room, and it felt like coming home.ÌýÌý

OnceÌýenrolled,ÌýI appreciatedÌýthe balance BTÌìÌà struck between structure and flexibility. WhileÌýstudents were free toÌýexplore their passions,Ìýthey had multiple sources of guidance.ÌýAs a first-year student,ÌýI was interested inÌýtheÌýInternational Economics and International BusinessÌýmajors, butÌýneither fully corresponded to what I wanted.ÌýAfterÌýmany discussions withÌýmy mentor,ÌýProfessorÌýGeoff Gilbert,Ìýas well as Professors Robert Earhart and AliÌýRahnema,ÌýI created my own major,ÌýInternational Marketing and Management.ÌýWhile able toÌýindulge inÌýthe fantastic course offerings, IÌýwasÌýalsoÌýencouraged to look beyondÌýBTÌìÌÃ’s borders. I chose to participate in the Semester at SeaÌýprogram,Ìýwhich allowed me to travel to 13 countries, meet Nobel Prize winners and world leaders, and gain invaluable experience through in-country service projects.ÌýÌý

I admired how BTÌìÌà had deep roots in the city and culture of Paris, while also fostering anÌýintensely internationalÌýclassroom experience.ÌýMy cultural educationÌýrevolved aroundÌýliving withinÌýthe unfamiliarÌýFrench culture, whileÌýsharing classroomsÌýwith students fromÌýa huge array ofÌýnationalities, cultures, and countries.ÌýI gained pricelessÌýinsights into how differentÌýpeoplesÌýlook uponÌýany number of globalÌýissuesÌýandÌýquestions.ÌýÌý

I believe thatÌýfor most of us, our time atÌýuniversityÌýis when we startÌýto grow up and become theÌýsort of adult we want to be. Looking back, I feel lucky to have spent these crucialÌýyearsÌýat BTÌìÌà and in Paris.ÌýNot only didÌýIÌýgainÌýcritical thinking and communication skills, which have proven vital to my career, but I also got to take advantage of small classes, highly dedicated professors, and an international student body, all of which would have been hard to find elsewhere. I alsoÌýdiscoveredÌýa second home in Paris,ÌýwhichÌýhas an extraordinary capacity for teaching people how to enjoyÌýlife, be it with its food or its eternal celebration of beauty, in all the forms it takes.ÌýÌýÌý

AfterÌýa stint working as aÌýmarketing consultantÌýfor a startup,ÌýIÌýbecameÌýan account strategistÌýatÌýGoogle. Here, IÌýprovidedÌýstrategic and consultative advertising solutionsÌýfor businesses, while helpingÌýour Nordic teamÌýimproveÌýcustomerÌýinteractionÌýand workingÌýas a Swedish representative with our Nordic advertisers. I leftÌýGoogle to doÌývolunteer work with refugeesÌýand now live in Stockholm, whereÌýI manageÌýCoca Cola’s national and key accounts withÌýSwedish wholesalersÌýand oversee allÌýsales across the Norwegian-Swedish border.ÌýRemember thatÌýlife is a journey of constant self-development: youÌýshould alwaysÌýjustÌýgo for it.ÌýÌý

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