CourtesyJunior Jana Riddick traveled to Austria last fall to study abroad for a year.
鈥淏eing an international business major, I think it would be crazy not to study abroad,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t shows employers that I am able to adapt to different surroundings and cultures.鈥�
Riddick said international business offers a global perspective, which she believes is beneficial, especially with the economic problems many countries have.
Riddick came to WSU because of the 鈥済reat business program.鈥�
鈥淚 was really interested in business throughout high school,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I also enjoy learning and experiencing different cultures, so I thought international business would be a good fit.鈥�
For her study abroad, Riddick attended Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt, in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. The school only offers business and engineering courses, and the majority of her classes were marketing.
Vienna is 30 minutes away from her college town by train, so she could go to a big city if she needed to and travel easily around Europe. If her classes were cancelled, she could fly to Ireland on a whim.
She said Wiener Neustadt is a small town that has a 鈥渢ypical college atmosphere.鈥�
She stayed in the dorms at Fachhochschule with other exchange students. Her roommate was Chinese, and she studied with students from Sweden, Poland, Canada and Spain.
Riddick wants to travel between the United States and Europe, spending a few weeks at a time on each continent as a consultant.
She said her dream job would be 鈥渉elping companies succeed in international markets.鈥�
At WSU, Riddick is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and is involved with the Student Ambassador Society.
She helps the admissions office with recruitment events, such as Senior Day. She and other SAS members give tours, hold student panels and give their viewpoint of WSU.
In spring 2008, Riddick was vice president of selections, which oversees the application process for new members.
鈥淚 joined SAS as a way to give back to the university and help promote WSU,鈥� she said.
Riddick will be back for her senior year in fall 2009. After she graduates, she hopes to continue to the master鈥檚 program at WSU.