"Even though I have not used Chinese in a professional capacity, just understanding culture difference and how to work with an international team has been a major factor in some of the opportunities I have been given."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): International Studies and Economics; Certificate in Chinese Professional Communication
Language(s): Mandarin Chinese
Graduation Year: 2019
What motivated you to study this/these languages?
I took Spanish and Chinese courses in high school and really enjoyed both learning new languages and cultures. I was really interested in potentially working abroad or in a government role and felt learning a language would really help me get more work opportunities. I also was able to put my skills to the test and study abroad in Shanghai!
What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?
My friends thought I was crazy for taking a 6 credit Chinese course. We spent a lot of time in class everyday and we even had class twice a day sometimes. I made great friends in my Chinese courses and built great relationships with the TAs because we spent so much time in class. They really pushed us to learn and as a result I felt pretty confident in my Chinese skills once I graduated. Very grateful that UW had such a robust Chinese language program.
How valuable were your out-of-classroom experiences? How did they add to your undergraduate experience/coursework?
I was part of the Chinese language club which fostered an environment for us to speak with students whose native language was Chinese to help us practice. It really helped me to be constantly practicing especially outside the classroom. I also studied abroad in Shanghai and had an internship with an American company at their Shanghai headquarters. Studying abroad was life changing. I had an opportunity to really reflect on my own identity as an American and experience a completely different culture. Studying abroad definitely helped me learn how to be comfortable in new environments.
What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?
After graduating at UW I completed an internship in Baltimore for a utility company and then in the Fall of 2019 I started my MBA at NC State University. I ended up interning and then taking a full time role with a technology company called NetApp on a international team in digital marketing. I learned a lot in the tech industry but due to my internship in Shanghai and interest in business sustainability I wanted to try something in that area. I currently work for NC State university as a program manager in Business Sustainability. I also work part time for a non profit that promotes research in the area of business sustainability.
What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?
Having a language background has definitely helped my career! My previous job at NetApp, my resume ended up standing out due to my experience working abroad. Even though I have not used Chinese in a professional capacity, just understanding culture difference and how to work with an international team has been a major factor in some of the opportunities I have been given.
How have you maintained or improved your language(s) since graduation?
Occasionally I will meet someone from China and set up time to have conversational practice with them to see if my skills are good. I definitely don’t remember the characters very well or read but I can still hold a conversation.
What advice do you have for students who are studying language(s) about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?
Whether or not you want to be a translator, work abroad, or you want to stay in the US to work but are interested in studying a language, this skill is very transferable no matter what you want to do. Learning a language teaches you resilience, cultural understanding, critical thinking, listening, and more! Most importantly I think it teaches you how to get outside of your comfort zone which is a skill that can take you far in a career.