Lena Hobbs-Brown

Q: Why did you choose the Alexander Hamilton Scholars program?

A: I began at NC State as an International Studies major, but I quickly realized I wanted to add a second major to create a more well-rounded education. I wanted to combine the theoretical and global knowledge from International Studies with the more business and technical knowledge from Poole College of Management.

Q: What is your favorite thing about the Alexander Hamilton Scholars program?

A: One of my favorite things about Alexander Hamilton Scholars is that they provide scholarships that are only offered to Alexander Hamilton students for studying abroad. Receiving one of these scholarships was huge for me and really allowed me to be able to go abroad.

Q: What has been your favorite Alexander Hamilton Scholars event? Why?

A: I really enjoy the AHS Alumni Panel that we have every year. I enjoy being able to talk to people who had a very similar educational experience to me who are now in the professional world. I am always inspired by them and enjoy learning about the potential career paths post-AHS and NC State.

Q: How has being a part of Alexander Hamilton Scholars prepared you for your future career?

A: I have noticed that a lot of careers really value students with an international/global mindset. That is exactly the experience that Alexander Hamilton Scholars gives students.

Q: What did studying abroad teach you about yourself?

A: Being abroad taught me that I am a really adaptable and flexible person. I realized this because, after a short period of time, my apartment in Madrid really felt like home. I would go on a trip for a weekend and get the feeling of excitement to go home to my apartment. After not too long, my neighborhood in Madrid felt so familiar and really comfortable. Traveling while abroad can also be crazy-plans get messed up, you almost miss flights, you stay in weird hostels-but overall I remained flexible, calm, and happy.

Q: Were you surprised by anything during your time abroad?

A: There were a lot of things that surprised me while abroad. A few experiences that come to mind were moments when the world felt really small. For example, during our spring break, myself and a few of my friends abroad were in a really odd, cheap, pizza/fast food restaurants on the outskirts of Palermo, Italy. At the table next to us there was a group of American students whom we did not know, but we found out two of them when to high school in Raleigh. It was crazy to me that I could meet someone across the globe in such a random place who happened to be from the same town.

Q: Did you explore any other locations while you were studying abroad?

A: Because I was in Spain, it was fairly easy to travel to other countries. I traveled to Lisbon, Rome, the Canary Islands, the Amalfi Coast, Palermo, Sicily, Amsterdam and Marrakesh, Morocco.

Q: What was your favorite thing about studying abroad?

A: My favorite thing about studying abroad was the unique global perspective I gained from my semester in Spain. Most college students do not get to move to another country for 5 months. The uniqueness of that experience is really close to my heart. Previous to my experience abroad, I had actually never traveled outside of the country; but it was something I knew I always wanted to do. I was really curious about life and culture in other countries. Living in Spain for 5 months really opened my eyes to a global perspective, allowing me to appreciate cultural differences and gain perspective on the possibilities for my own future.