Studying abroad led to working abroad for one Marshall University graduate.

“I got involved in one of the many study abroad programs offered through Marshall, where I spent the summer in Spain and learned the culture,” Eric Wilson, a Marshall alumn and teacher in the Appalachians Abroad Teach in China program, said. 

“After that spark was ignited, I couldn’t stop,” Wilson said. “I got involved in the Appalachians Abroad Teach in China program after I graduated because I wanted to see the country, I get paid to do so and I have met some amazing people along the way.”

The Appalachians Abroad Teach in China is a nationwide program that offers a paid, year-long position to those with a degree to teach English to students in China and is one example of an opportunity that a degree from Marshall provides. 

“Many students do not realize the opportunities given to them that comes with a degree,” Qing Qing Zhao, director of the Teach in China program at Marshall, said. “A lot of people apply because they never have traveled or didn’t get the chance to in college. It’s easier to learn the language and culture when you are fully immersed in it, and those involved get to become a part of that culture, no matter where you go.”

China is not the only option that Marshall offers in terms of traveling and opportunities after graduation; the skills and knowledge gained through getting a degree can be beneficial in all future endeavors according to Neicey Chapman, a Marshall alumna and travel writer. 

“Having a degree under your belt opens doors for you that would be much more difficult to access without one,” Chapman said. “People pay more attention to young people if they have an education. I graduated with a degree in political science and have not worked a day in the field. Because I got my degree, people know I am capable and want to work with me. Even if you’re not exactly sure what you want to do after graduation, if you want to go places, a degree from a place like Marshall University does nothing but make that easier.”

Sarah Rowe can be contacted at [email protected].