Evidence
GLOBAL EXPERIENCE by Linzey Cortner, BSBA ‘13
Hello, or as they say in Turkey, “Merhaba.” It is also a word that means “Welcome,” as I do to you and my story. It’s one of distance. It’s one of embracing diversity. And, it’s a story that not only took me across the world but one that has changed mine. Before embarking on Webster University’s Global Hybrid course “Turkey: At the Crossroads of Europe and the Middle East,” my experiences outside of my comfort zone could be measured in tens of miles. Each day it took me a few miles to get to campus, another .4 miles to walk from Webster’s parking garage to my class and only 42 miles to roadtrip back home to see my family in St. Clair, MO. Coming to school at Webster marked my first time away from home. I had never left Missouri, let alone the U.S., so why would I even consider a 5700-mile trip to the Middle East? I admit that I came to Webster University without any sense of direction. I knew that I loved business but didn’t know where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do or how I wanted to grow that passion. Then one night, while I sat in an economics class, Dr. Benjamin Akande, dean of the Walker School of Business, walked in. He asked if he could interrupt class for a moment then proceeded to tell us about
10
an opportunity to take an online management course that included traveling to Turkey. We would learn about business in the Middle East and then travel to Istanbul to experience live what we learned through theory in class. His words left me inspired, but apprehensive. I was anxious about leaving the country for the first time, but I would not allow my nerves to overshadow the opportunity. The course subject fit perfectly into my studies, the timing of the class worked with my schedule and deep inside I knew that studying in a foreign country and adding an international element to my education would give me a significant edge as an aspiring young business woman. I had always wanted to travel abroad, and the Middle East had always fascinated me. I also learned about the Walker Travel Award, which is available to all business students to help pay for travel expenses. I had to say “yes,” and that decision has changed my life. For six weeks, my class met online with Professor Ece Tuncel to discuss the challenges and opportunities of doing business in the Middle East. In May, we finally met each other in person for the first time in Istanbul! The next week’s itinerary was a perfect