Business
Jessica Ireland Lazy Faire had the opportunity to meet with the exchange expert, Jessica Ireland! Being one of the most busiest and organized people we have met with three jobs, being president of the BEA and taking dance, Jessica grasps every opportunity to share her enthusiasm and love for travel and exchange! Lazy Faire: Do you personally prefer backpacking and hostels or tours and hotels? Jessica Ireland: I have never been backpacking. I have only gone on tours and to hotels but I think I would say I’d prefer backpacking only because I do a lot of things that are within my comfort zone and that is something that I am trying to get away from. Your life doesn’t really start until you get out of your comfort zone and do something. So, that is my goal when I go to Europe. My exchange will be my first time being away from home for that long by myself, so I’m just going to try to see as many places as possible and soak everything in. So, that is going to be my main focus when going on exchange. LF: What are some of the benefits of going on Exchange? JI: It will set you apart. I have talked to so many people that have gone on exchange and just by putting that on their resume, that’s all they end up talking about in an interview. The BEA alumni, they work everywhere from Paris to Munich down to Mexico. It also opens your eyes and makes you a more well rounded person in general. If you
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Our VP Internal, Kyle, explained it really well. If exchange was a blind date and you were the person going on the date, we are just the match maker.
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only know how business works in Canada it will cut you short in what you’re able to do and what your skills are. If you understand other cultures and see things in other places it will allow you to be innovative here at home. I think exchange is underrated. You gain a level of maturity when you are done and you are able to fully understand yourself. How many people get to say “I studied in France for 6 months,” it will set you apart in interviews and resumes. LF: For students anticipating on going on exchange how can they prepare for and maximize their adventure? JI: For those that haven’t applied yet it is really about asking questions. We have a pretty good system where a lot of people that have gone on exchange, allow us to give out their contact information to people that want to go to the same destination. That is something that I did. I met up with someone that went to the same place that I was going to and roughly figured out what my costs were going to be. That is something I recommend in order to get (your application) ready, talk to someone that has done it before because they can shed light on it unlike anyone else. The Application process can be done in two weeks but I would not recommend it. If you go through the School of Business there are only a certain number of spots available for certain countries. The earlier you apply the better because it then reserves that spot. If you have it in your mind that you want to go on exchange but you keep thinking about it, coming to talk to us or seeing an advisor kind of kick starts you in going. When you apply, there is a waiting period to learn about courses and if you’re living in residence. Once you get that information it is about talking to an advisor right away so you can figure out what courses you can transfer back. We want students to go on exchange no matter what so it is never too late but it is really about being prepared.