Anika Wottreng Dares to Dream Bigger After Study Abroad
By Sue McMurray
Anika Wottreng (’24) absolutely loves traveling and learning about new cultures, trying foods, and seeing a bit more of the world beyond her doorstep. The daughter of an international business executive, she comes by it naturally, having lived in Japan and Germany as a child.
Recently, as a young adult, Wottreng completed her first study abroad experience, spending a semester at the SKEMA Business School in southern France. She says the experience completely changed her life.
“Study abroad has made me more open minded and flexible to many career and life opportunities,” she says.
Aligning study abroad with future professional interests
Wottreng, who is also a Boeing Scholar and in the Honors College, spent a lot of time analyzing her personal and professional growth aspirations and chose a study abroad program that aligned with her double majors in international business and management information systems.
She went through the CEA CAPA Education Abroad program, a third-party provider of high-quality, international academic programs. Support from the Carson College of Business International Experience Scholarship was the key to being able to afford the experience, Wottreng says.
With future plans to work in project management or data analytics for a global tech company, Wottreng thought living in France would be a good opportunity to brush up on her French language skills, immerse herself in a new culture, and explore a new country. She lived in Antibes, a small town in the French Riviera, just an hour away by train from Italy.
Most Tuesdays, she would Uber to school because of bus strikes. During the time she studied abroad, there was a national strike against the French government proposing to increase retirement age from 62 to 64.
“People were not happy about it, and they showed it through transportation strikes,” Wottreng says. “They even graffitied buses—not to make the buses look ugly—but to display their message of frustration, anger, and disapproval against the government’s plan. Interestingly, in my elective ‘French Culture and History’ class, I learned about how French citizens’ current rebellious spirit has deep roots in historic legacy like
the French Revolution. That connection was fascinating to see and understand.”
Appreciating the French lifestyle and culture
Wottreng cites confidence, time management, teamwork, adaptability, critical thinking, and problem solving among the most valuable skills she developed, as they will apply to any profession she chooses. She also says her cultural awareness completely changed after being immersed in French culture over time, as compared to a tourist experience.
“It’s beautiful how you can live the life of a local, as if they handed you a pair of their shoes to not only walk in but also keep, and just to watch, observe, and live in a new culture and world for the time being,” she says.
How French people value work and free time surprised her the most, she says, because they always value their free time above work.
“French people discuss and view work as something they do, not something they are. This is very different from the American culture I’m accustomed to,” Wottreng says. “For example, the answer to ‘So tell me about yourself’ isn’t about a job title, but rather the city they’re from, their hobbies, and maybe what they like/dislike, or their life goals and dreams. They enjoyed drinking a coffee by themselves or chatting with friends for several hours. There was no rush, not even from the waiter. It was a different social interaction and environment, but it was so pleasant to just watch them enjoy life outside of work.”
Daring to dream bigger
In addition to her interest in working for a global tech company, Wottreng is also considering the airline industry or business consulting firms that have unique global opportunities. During spring break this year, Wottreng completed a second study abroad program in Dubai learning about tourism, hospitality, sustainability, urban design, and international business. Eventually, she plans to move back to Europe and perhaps settle in Germany.
“Because of studying abroad, I feel like I can dare to dream bigger since I’ve seen with my own eyes people living a happy life doing a job that I didn’t consider before,” she says. “I feel like I’ve gotten permission by just observing and living in a different culture to live the life I want to.”