What journey have you taken to arrive at your current role and working for TEAN?
An indirect one! It took me a while to find a field that interested me. Ultimately it was my passion for travel, restless nature, and a bit of luck that lead me to TEAN. After several years leading our Internship Programs, earning my Masters in Business Administration, learning our company’s processes and coming to know the team that I took on the role of Manager of Enrollment.

You work closely with the program team from our Chicago office, what makes this team unique?
The specialized knowledge base. I came from a different industry so was not aware that there were people who valued international education and travel so highly. All of the people that I work with are very well traveled, passionate, motivated, and most importantly, experts in the regions in which they manage programs.

For those who haven’t been to the TEAN Chicago office before, how would you describe the environment and setup?
This is the most difficult question, because you really just need to visit in-person to get a good feel for it. I would describe it as “An ideal place for international education enthusiasts to; collaborate, have fun, work hard, cook great lunches, relax in beanbags, participate in meetings on exercise work bikes, play tug of war with the office dog, and change lives.”

Why would you encourage a student to pursue an internship abroad?
An internship was once a point of differentiation. Nowadays, it has become an expectation. An international internship will truly stand out, especially if properly reflected upon so you can convey your experience to future employers. Equally important is an expanded network, personal and professional growth. An internship abroad will give you a greater sense of what it means to be a global citizen.

What have been some highlights or favorite moments from your travels?
Number one highlight is my first international flight, which happened to be 29 hours of travel to Perth, Australia (believe it or not). It got old about half way through but the anticipation and excitement was very memorable.

What first brought you to Australia?
During my junior year of college I decided I would do a teaching internship abroad in Australia. It turned out to be one of the greatest decisions of my life. My placement was at a public primary school which happened to be the first school established in Sydney in 1869. I stayed for the entire year working on tasks that included lesson plan development, art and physical education activities, speech therapy, presentations, assembly material and more. Observing and discovering Australia’s different approaches to teaching made me realize the importance of helping students discover their individual talents and learning styles without putting too much emphasis or attention on standardized testing results. Upon my return to the U.S., I finished my degree in Education and Global Studies with the intent to explore education related career paths with more global involvement and perspective.

What is your favorite part of your job?
My absolute favorite part of my job is seeing or hearing stories about TEAN students who have stepped out of their comfort zones while abroad and are very pleased afterward that they did. There’s nothing like moments of self doubt followed by accomplishment and feeling proud of yourself for doing something new. Many of our students have numerous experiences like this while abroad and realize there’s no person or thing here to hold them back from some truly amazing opportunities. The Aussies often say “just have a go” and it’s an expression I’ve never taken lightly – I never regret trying new things!

What makes Sydney a great place to study or intern abroad?
Sydney is a big and diverse city boasting a wide range of lifestyles and multicultural groups. I love it because people from all over the world have decided to make it their home. It is a very accepting city and is always hosting the neatest events around town that support various groups. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is breathtaking and the Opera House is such a beautiful icon that I often find myself on its steps reflecting after a long week. It always leaves me in awe of how lucky I am to live in such a great city.

What was the transition like moving from Brisbane to Sydney?
Sydney has more than twice as many people living in it compared to Brisbane, so they are very different cities that offer completely different lifestyles. I lived in Brisbane for two years and loved its country-town feel (as any girl from Nashville would be able to appreciate). Brisbane is situated in an ideal spot in Queensland for exploring the beaches to both the north and south as well as its hidden hinterland. I miss its warm weather and continuous sunshine. The city itself was small so very easy to get acquainted with in a short amount of time, which can be ideal for study abroad students – you feel at home right away! The Brisbane River was one of my favorite things about ‘Brissy’ as it kept the entire city connected and made it quick to get around on speedy Citycat ferries. In Sydney, on the other hand, you seldom even have to leave the city to find adventure. It always has huge sporting events, concerts, art exhibitions, cultural festivals, markets and so much more. I love that it sees four seasons as opposed to Brisbane and has plenty of scenic hikes with views of the harbor around it.