Meet the CET CA Team
Get to know the 2024/25 CET Campus Ambassadors (CET CAs)! Connect with these program alumni and learn about their experiences abroad—chat about classroom environments, local roommates, or even what it was like to intern in another country. There’s no better way to learn about studying abroad than to strike up a conversation with someone who has been there.
“Spending my spring semester in Osaka was one of the best decisions I could’ve ever made during my sophomore year. I went into this program barely knowing japanese and getting lost on the trains my second day there. I can now read and write pretty well and comfortably navigate different regions of Japan. Meeting new people and really getting adjusted with Japanese culture really aided in my growth as person, I couldn’t be more thankful to have been able to enjoy this experience. Also, Have I got SOOOO many stories to share!” Contact Kendall >
“I am a Senior Environmental Science and Humanities major at Texas Tech University and participated in CET Japan. As a heritage learner, CET brought me closer to my ancestry and culture. In the future I hope to work internationally towards agriculture and sustainability initiatives. I particularly love fashion, and I sometimes DJ for a local radio station!” Contact Kai >
“The spring I spent in Taiwan was amazing! I had a lot of personal growth and my language skills certainly improved while abroad, so I am very grateful that this experience enabled me with an new perspective and so many interesting experiences. The support from CET was really invaluable to navigate everything I wanted to explore in Taiwan based on my personal background and interests.” Contact Katie >
“Hi, my name is Kai, a junior at Yale University studying Computing and the Arts. I participated in CET Taiwan over the summer of 2024, and it was truly an incredible experience. From growing my confidence in speaking Chinese to exploring a refreshing cultural perspective, I cherished my time in Taiwan. I’m also glad to say that I’ve tried boba milk tea from the world’s original boba tea shop!” Contact Kai >
“I am a non-traditional returning student who initially believed that I had “aged out” of being able to study abroad. I’m happy to say that during my time in Taiwan, I realized that study abroad is for everyone, and regardless of where one is in life, it can be a truly transformative experience. This solidified my belief that everyone who wants to step out of their comfort zone and experience life in another part of the world, should! Taiwan has a unique story to tell–one that can’t always be readily found in the media we’re accustomed to. My time in Taiwan taught me so much about its history, people, culture, politics, and languages. I made friendships to last a lifetime as well, while also reclaiming some forgotten independence!” Contact Niklas >
“My name is Jalen and I’m a senior at Washington University in St. Louis studying Chinese and Environmental Policy. I participated in the CET Beijing program in Spring of 2024 and had an unforgettable experience adapting to the full-time language pledge, navigating the streets of Beijing with my camera, and experiencing all of the amazing opportunities that my time abroad in China had to offer.” Contact Jalen >
“I am an undergraduate student majoring in International Relations and Chinese at WashU. Traveling to China to learn the language, experience the culture, and see such a controversial country with my own eyes was one of my primary goals before graduation. CET’s Beijing summer program not only allowed my Mandarin skills to flourish, but also supported each of its students in navigating life in China, which at times felt unfamiliar due to the uniqueness of Chinese society, apps, and language. Through trips, conversations with locals, and Chinese social media usage, I was able to learn more about the political and educational environment in China at the local level, which inspired me to formulate a project on Chinese nationalism for a current internship.” Contact Marchionni >
“This was my first time visiting the Asian continent, let alone China, so I had no idea what to expect. But, I can happily say that my experience studying with CET Shanghai was absolutely incredible. Not only was I able to significantly improve my Chinese language skills, but I also learned so much about Chinese history and culture. The initial immersion into Chinese the culture and language was intimidating and often difficult, but it was a mutual struggle between you and everyone else in the program. Together we were able to find a sense of community and help one another face our problems. I formed beautiful friendships with both Chinese and American students that I still have now that I’m back in the US.” Contact Grace >
“Hi everyone, my name is Abbott and I am a sophomore physics major at Vanderbilt University. This summer I was able to study abroad with CET Shanghai and it was easily one of the best decisions I ever made. Having studied Chinese my whole life, finally being able to put my skills to the test was an awesome challenge that taught me so much not just about China, but broadly about how to experience the cultures of the world. I could recommend nothing more than to try this experience out for yourself!” Contact Abbott >
Europe
“Hello! My names is James and I’m a junior at Texas Tech University. I’m a computer science major minoring in mathematics and cognitive science. I was looking for a study abroad program that would transfer credits for my major, so I chose the Computer Science program in Siena, Italy.” Contact James >
“Before CET Prague, I had never traveled outside of the United States. I was quite nervous for the new experience of studying abroad, but soon came to embrace the change with the support I received from the incredible CET staff. In fact, I was even able to travel with confidence to Hungary, Poland, and Austria during my time abroad! I am now deeply inspired to continue to see the world around me and to understand cultures different from my own. As a CET ambassador, I hope that I am able to inspire more students to pursue the enriching experience of studying abroad, as well!” Contact McAuley >
“I am a fourth-year student at George Washington University pursuing a major in history, a minor in political science, and a micro-minor in immigration and migration studies. I was in the Central European Studies track at CET Prague in spring of 2024. Looking back, the most invigorating experiences of my semester happened within the internship cohort, through which I worked with the Czech nonprofit Post Bellum. This internship harmoniously coincided with historical themes mirrored within CET courses and my academic pursuits at GW and transformed my experience from enjoyable and fun, to incredibly inspiring and academically stimulating.” Contact Cady >
“Howdy, my name is Soren Bushong and I spent this past semester in Prague, at FAMU. I have fallen in love with the city for it walkability and enamoring culture. As a film student at Syracuse University, I loved the ability that CET gave me to work hands on with analog film equipment and create a 35mm film within the city.” Contact Soren >
“I studied abroad through the filmmaking program that CET offers at FAMU, the spring of my junior year. Before arriving in Prague, I had very little production experience and was just as nervous as I was eager to begin a production-intensive semester. Shooting on 16mm was a blast, and the people I worked with quickly became close friends. The close-quartered and rigorous nature of this program challenged me in several ways, but in the end gave me a broader sense of how filmmaking works at a higher level, as well as how collaboration should be approached in any academic or professional setting. The city of Prague itself is hub of rich history, art, culture, and land, and I’m counting down the days until I can return. This semester was a wild, stressful, exciting, and eye-opening experience, and one without which I’d have the knowledge, friendships, and connections I have now.” Contact Abby >
Latin America
“Hey y’all, my name is Anna Hobbins, I’m a senior at Tulane studying Latin American Studies and Legal Studies in Business. I’m originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin but have studied abroad in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and most recently, Brazil through CET’s Business in Brazil track. I love nature photography, biking and hiking, and discovering new restaurants in New Orleans and beyond.” Contact Anna >
“I’m Reyna, a Wellesley College senior majoring in Environmental Studies! I participated in the CET Social Justice Brazil program for Spring 2024. I loved my experience abroad and would love to guide others in navigating Brazil.” Contact Reyna >
Middle East
“I was surprised by how quickly I felt at home in Amman. CET Jordan brought me to a corner of the world rich with culture, history, and hospitality, and so many of the people I met in Jordan welcomed me into their community from the first moment I arrived.” Contact Gracie >
“With just a few words and an open-mind, I embarked on a lifelong endeavor of learning Arabic, and Jordan was the guide that showed me the first steps forward.” Contact Tomas >