Halfway up the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

The world is big. I am small.

I learned that while completing two semesters abroad, first in Heidelberg, Germany, then in Salamanca, Spain. There are billions of people on this planet, and I am just one of the several hundred million that belong to the United States. I have been fortunate enough to experience a variety of cultures that differ from mine in any number of ways, and I did so while earning my Bachelor’s Degree. I was afforded the opportunities to hear the Chancellor of Germany speak in person, to tour the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and to admire the Alhambra in Andalusia. All of these experiences and more shaped not only my personal world view, but my education.

Studying abroad was such an eye-opening experience for me that I want to dedicate my career to assisting future students in their endeavors to travel, explore, and learn. I want to them to discover not only where they fit into the world, but how the world fits into them, as well. That’s what brings me to where I am today.

My name is Jessica Schrader, and I am currently working toward my Master’s Degree in International Education Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. I am here learning the skills that I will need to thrive in the field of International Education, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.