Download Through IUPUC`s study abroad program student travels to Athens

IUPUC | Contact: Belinda Allen | 812.348.7339
Through IUPUC’s study abroad
program student travels to
Athens, Greece
Mikala Greenlee, a business major at IUPUC, spent her summer in Athens,
Greece studying at the American College of Greece.
Greenlee participated in a four-week study abroad program with 16 other
Indiana University students studying the intersection of business and society,
through the lens of business ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder
management.
In addition to the course lectures and experiential learning, the students went
on excursions to a Greek island, the ruins of Agamemnon’s kingdom,
Mycenae, and the world-famous ancient amphitheater of Epidaurus.
The Division of Business at IUPUC requires all students to participate in an experiential learning opportunity as
part of their curriculum. For Greenlee, the study abroad trip allowed her the opportunity to not only fulfill her
experiential learning requirement but to satisfy her ambition of studying abroad.
In the following Q&A, Greenlee discusses the value of her study abroad trip, the importance of learning through
experience, and the excitement of seeing the world through a different lens.
Why did you choose to study in Greece?
I recognized that studying in Greece would have vast implications regarding my education, business, and
professional skills. Greece has been impacted by the recent financial downturn and has demonstrated significant
resilience, even with several economic forces acting against it. This provided an excellent learning opportunity to
improve my cultural and international awareness and understanding in efforts to enhance myself as a young
scholar. Additionally, I was excited to visit the Greek businesses and multi-national companies to witness how
business is conducted globally.
What was your favorite part of the trip?
The Greek beaches and shorelines were beautiful, but my favorite part of the trip came with viewing the
historical sites and experiencing Greek culture through daily excursions. I immensely enjoyed the frequent
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visitations to historical monuments and temples. Visits to Mycenae, Epidaurus, and the Acropolis of Athens were
especially significant to my overall learning experience. I was able to fully appreciate the combination of myth
and history behind the creation of these magnificent structures. I could have browsed the museums for hours
learning more about the cultural relevance of these historical monuments and artifacts. These types of
educational excursions proved to be my favorite part of the trip because they were true testimonies of ancient
Greek myth and legend.
What was the most impactful learning experience you had in Greece?
In addition to the frequent trips to the beautiful beaches and historical monuments in Greece, I thoroughly
enjoyed the business and nonprofit visitations. These were perhaps among the most impactful learning
experiences while in Greece. I especially enjoyed visiting charitable organizations and learning about their
corporate social responsibility initiatives, fundraising efforts and witnessing the immense passion and sense of
duty company professionals can exhibit. One organization singlehandedly encouraged me to rethink my career
aspirations and goals in life. A guiding principle was frequently relayed during this trip: life is only worth living if
there is passion in it. This principle and several industry visits enabled me to better reflect on my career
ambitions and the decisions associated with them. Do I pursue a corporate lifestyle capitalizing on my
competitive nature, or do I pursue my selfless ambitions and passions leaning toward my nonprofit interests?
Several experiences on the trip better enabled me to consider these options more carefully.
Students at IUPUC are eligible to participate in Indiana University sponsored trips where they meet the eligibility
requirements. For more information on study abroad opportunities and scholarships to support a trip, contact
Jeni Chandler at [email protected].
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