Granger, Luke

Luke Granger

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I really wanted to travel to Asia but had only ever taken Spanish classes; Hong Kong is very easy to transition to with only English. Additionally, I wanted a global city but a defined campus and CUHK provided the perfect university campus just a short subway ride from a bustling city.

What did you learn about yourself?
I learned that while overwhelming, I like to take calculated risks - whether that be trying new cuisines/dishes or traveling to destinations "off the beaten path." By taking these risks, I was either able to face setbacks and learn I could overcome them, or I experienced something I never foresaw being possible.

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
I travelled to the north of Vietnam to a small village for a two day trek. There, I met amazing people, both locals and other travelers and really got out of my comfort zone as I travelled solo.

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
Studying abroad is taking a risk and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. While there, continue to push yourself to try new things and meet new people.

Would you do it again?
Absolutely

How did your study abroad experience prepare you for your future career?
Group projects were a theme throughout my abroad courses. In many of these projects, I was the only exchange student; the other students were either local Hong Kong students or mainland Chinese students. Consequently, I had a unique perspective to bring to the group projects and I learned how to convey it with students whose first language is different than mine (Mandarin or Cantonese). More importantly, I enhanced my ability to understand other perspectives and how to incorporate them into a final project that represents all involved. The ability to portray my belief to a diverse group as well as to incorporate diverse perspectives into final products will help immensely in my future career.

Memories