Welcome to our Where are they now? alumni stories series, where we’re interviewing alumni, whose experiences have shaped their lives and careers over time.
In this post, we’re interviewing Tommy Steele, a Trimester Exchange student from 2024 who went to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the USA. He is now a Master’s Student, living in North Carolina, USA.
What originally motivated you to apply for a global experience?
To see the world, to learn a different perspective and to experience a different culture. Gaining a global perspective is quite important, and it can give you the edge over someone else in the workforce who hasn’t had that experience abroad. It has been an incredible experience that has enabled me with many skills and the ability to adapt well to change and to a new environment/culture. I was motivated to represent the University of Waikato abroad so that others see how awesome Waikato students and the university are.
Did your experience shift how you see yourself or the world? If so, how?
Yes, I realised how much more there was out there. There are many opportunities to grow and to learn more about yourself as a person and the world. I am very grateful for having had this opportunity to study abroad. I have a greater, more flexible perspective of the world, which I would not have gained if I did not study abroad with Waikato Global Experiences.
What do you wish you’d known before going on your experience?
I wish I knew how beneficial a study abroad could be, and that the sky is the limit with this. I didn’t know that it could lead to other opportunities in the future even after the completion of the exchange programme.
What advice would you give to students considering a global experience?
Just do it, take the leap of faith. Your comfort zone is the enemy if you’re trying to learn and grow, so get out of it. Embrace the challenge, the feeling of unfamiliar territory, and strive for success.
If I hadn’t gone on my global experience, I wouldn’t have…
gained global experience and learnt skills to adapt and change in a foreign environment. In addition, I wouldn’t have gone on to do my master’s degree, and I wouldn’t have seen first-hand the many opportunities there are out there to find something that fits your future career ambitions.
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