After three months of hard work, the first semester of the M.S. in Global Commerce program and our time in Charlottesville has come to a close. Through our classes and outstanding professors and peers, we gained knowledge and experience with global business challenges. We created memories and learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. We came together as a cohort to bond and understand the different backgrounds and cultures we represent to truly create a sense of community.
Our classmates shared some of their favorite memories from our time at McIntire.
Andrew Broussard: Being able to spend so much time with this great group of people that I was able to live, study, and hang out with allowed me to form deeper relationships than I would in any other type of program. I was surprised at how different all of our backgrounds were! Our class was an excellent representation of how different people possess different strengths.
Yiran Shan: Our trip to Washington D.C. was one of my favorite parts of the semester. We had so much fun visiting different parts of the city and learning about various industries through company visits and highly dynamic Q&A sessions with industry leaders.
Vincenzo Polverino: I will never forget the last dinner my classmates and I had with the McIntire faculty and staff. We had the opportunity to see the respect the students and professors had for each other really shine through. We reminisced about our classes, discussed future ambitions, and talked about current global issues and events. In my opinion, the respect and gratitude shown reflected the success of the program and the well-being of the entire cohort throughout the semester.
During 2019, we will take on new continents, new classes, new professors, and even new living and team dynamics. Here’s what our classmates are looking forward to as we prepare for Guangzhou, China and Barcelona, Spain.
Yiran Shan: Although my time in the U.S.A. has been great and I have learned so much from my peers and professors, I can’t wait to show my cohort around China! From my city, Shanghai, to the food, and even the karaoke, I know that they will grow to love China and all it has to offer just as much as I do. Having visited Barcelona before, I cannot wait to indulge once more in the food and culture of Spain. I am especially looking forward to eating jamón serrano and paella every day.
Vincenzo Polverino: Being from Europe, I am most excited to learn about the Chinese business environment and culture. I’m also looking forward to studying in Barcelona, a city noted for its’ great artwork, creativity, and innovation.
Andrew Broussard: I am eager to accept the challenge of REALLY living outside of my comfort zone. As an American student, I started the program in my home country and helped my foreign peers adjust to life in the United States. Now it’s my turn to adjust to living in a foreign environment and having my Chinese peers help me explore the unique challenges that China holds.
UVA gave us incredible professors, lifelong lessons, and delicious food (Bodo’s and Poke!). As a group, we want to say thank you to all the remarkable men and women that taught us throughout this semester. We cannot wait to see what the next locations will bring!
