Kate Gromacki of the field hockey team spent the Spring 2023 semester in France and writes about her time in Western Europe. Here is her experience.
By Kate Gromacki ’24
When I chose to attend Washington College, I knew I was choosing a place where I would be encouraged to explore all of my interests while also being able to play Division III field hockey. I am a Business Management and French Studies double major, and I had always wanted to find the intersectionality between the two. This led me to studying abroad last Spring in Paris, France, where I attended the American Business School of Paris and took part in the Annual Company Challenge amongst international students from around the world.
I knew about this program since the first Open House I attended at WAC as a high school student. This university’s focus on International Business with a European teaching style, specifically the French style, offers something unique to students who have studied in their home countries their whole lives. My interest in international travel has always been strong, so the chance to study what I am passionate about in a city that I already love with many cultures nearby to explore was simply all that I needed.
I took four courses exploring different angles and contexts of marketing, challenging, and applying what I had learned already at WAC. The subjects included market research, international marketing, creating and developing luxury brands, and sponsorship marketing. The university is known for cultivating internationally diverse populations, giving students the opportunity to interact with those of different cultures, languages, and norms. While taking courses, I also took part in the Annual Company Case Challenge, where I was selected to act as Junior Consultant to an executive at global French telecom company Orange on a team of international students tasked with a real-world marketing issue. For eight weeks my team and I worked to solve the issue with tactical deliverables and researched solutions while meeting weekly with Orange. We presented our research to both our partners at Orange, and the administration of ABS, and out of 16 teams, the board awarded my team with the top award.
While I had the resources to further study business at an international level at my fingertips, I could also explore French culture and their beautiful language just as much. With a flexible schedule and an intricate plan, I was able to see my favorite impressionist paintings in person and had the ability to spend countless days meandering different museums and culturally significant places. I could learn something new every day living in a city with such pride in their culture and traditions. Speaking French daily brought my language skill to a new level and allowed me to grow a strong appreciation for its intrinsic representation of such a unique culture.
I had the opportunity to make connections with people who share my academic interests from around the world. I was able to travel to countries I had always wanted to see, and experience important cultural events first-hand. I gained international working experience while applying what I started here at WAC, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. With the help of the Cater Society and the GEO Office, I was able to take my experiences here at WAC and see the endless possibilities this place has provided me. I cannot wait to get back on Kibler Field this Fall for one last season with my WACFH family! See you there.