Take a look back at this interview with former Peer Advisor Jenna Banatwala.
Interview Date: May 2, 2020
What’s your name?
Jenna Banatwala
What’s your major? Do you have any minors?
Major: Economics, Minor: Political Science
What program did you go on? Why?
I studied abroad with the American Business School in Paris. I chose an external program so I would be more independent and stray further outside of my comfort zone and the Temple bubble. When choosing an external program, I wanted to be in France to improve my French language skills and I needed to be able to take business courses to stay on track to graduate, so the American Business School was a perfect fit for me.
Did you have any experience abroad before this program?
Before studying abroad, I had done a lot of international traveling with my family.
What’s your favorite memory from that program?
My favorite memory from my time abroad is sitting on Champs de Mars under the Eiffel Tower having a picnic with the friends that I made in Paris.
What’s the most important thing you learned from this program, be it personal or academic growth?
Going abroad, I was nervous to use my elementary-level French skills with native speakers, to travel on my own, and much more. However, while I was abroad, I put myself in uncomfortable situations over and over again, and I always came out of them more confident in myself.
What are you doing after graduation?
After graduating from Temple University, I will be heading to Ithaca, New York as a part of the Cornell Law School Class of 2023!
How did your time studying abroad impact your post-grad plans?
While I was abroad, I took an Operations Management course in which my team developed a plan for an international business. For me, these studies emphasized how complex the international legal environment is, as my courses on Main Campus never really discuss this. While I had already been thinking about going to law school, being able to learn about how international businesses operate while I was abroad sparked my interest in international law!
Any advice for current Temple students who want to go abroad?
Get out of your comfort zone. Whether that’s traveling solo, joining a local soccer team, volunteering at a school, speaking the local language, or going abroad in the first place! Studying abroad is about so much more than your classes, and you will learn so much about yourself, but only if you take a chance!
How’s law school going for Jenna?
Find out at the Peer Advisor Alumni Chat, Friday, April 16, 2021 at 12pm ET.
