Global perspectives: PFW senior Lilian Frank models the Study Away experience

Lilian Frank might be searching for a job, and she has a long list of worldwide references.

The senior is an ideal ambassador and role model for Purdue University Fort Wayne's Study Away program, which encourages students to spend a semester in an international country. Frank has studied in England and Japan over the previous two semesters, spending summers in Italy and Korea. She has visited more than a dozen countries and is eager to continue her travels.

"Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!" Frank gushed. "I feel like everyone I've ever met who studies abroad says it is the highlight of their college experience. I know for a lot of people it can be hard to do because it is expensive, but there are so many resources out there if you take 5 or 10 minutes a day to look, you can seriously find lots of options."

That's how Frank paid for her travels, utilizing PFW's ScholarshipUniverse tool. Before she started looking, Frank had no idea what aid options were available. Sometimes she found resources from the countries she wanted to visit, from businesses looking to encourage tourism, as well as the U.S. government. She's currently considering international graduate studies after she graduates in May as an English major with a concentration in linguistics, a minor in art and design, and a certificate in international studies.

Frank also knows she's not done heading back into the world.

"There are some countries I'd like to explore even more, because I feel like I was limited in time while visiting some of them," Frank said. "I learned so much about myself on a personal level, such as what I want to do with my life and how to go with the flow of things. You may be introduced to things that you really love that you didn't even know existed beforehand."

Frank said she developed friendships with fellow students from different countries who were having the same experience. No one knew anyone, and they were all nervous at first, but they bonded over living together, sightseeing, classes, and the overall opportunities. She talks about how a few new friends plan to visit her, and she caught up with others from previous postings later in her sojourns.

Everyone involved is an international student, and everyone is looking for connection. Building friendships and support systems helped remove the fear factor.

"I learned to look at this as a new, exciting journey, and maybe more people should be willing to do different things like that," Frank said. "I have learned that I can adapt to any circumstance. When I get anxious or nervous about small things now, I remember certain things I went through and the times when I felt like I was a fraud, but those things worked out."

Two episodes stand out. When studying in Japan, Frank was placed in a family's home where no one spoke English, and her Japanese was basic at best. She survived, and her Japanese improved. Another time, Frank missed a public transportation train stop, the signs were all written in Korean, and her phone was almost dead. Somehow, with a little calm and extra time, Frank made her way home.

All of these things taught her to trust herself.

"The maturity you develop depends on where you are, but also the experiences you have," Frank said. "Not every experience was positive and awesome, but that's life. There were hardships, but I handled them, and they made me super-grateful for what I have. It also made me more willing to face challenges."

The experience of taking chances and learning to depend on herself required risks. Those achievements are part of why Frank never removes three necklaces. The first was a gift from her sister that spells out Frank's name in Japanese. The second is a pendant of Mary that Frank's mother bought for her, and the third is a Chinese pendant that says, "May all your dreams come true."

"Sometimes it's crazy to think I've done all of this because it was all just talk at first," Frank said. "Then I came home this semester, and thought, `Wow, I did all that.' It's kind of boggling to me, and I can't wait to do more."