2020 Family of the Year Supports Study Abroad

September 30, 2020 11:22 AM

The Iowa State University Family of the Year is an honor that is given to a family that shows a strong connection and pride for ISU. We are honored to introduce the 2020 Family of the Year, the Fichter's!  Heidi Fichter (2020), Adam Fichter (2015) and Austin Fichter (2015) all studied abroad during their time at Iowa State!

From left to right:

Chris Mandt (2018), Heidi Fichter (2020), Adam Fichter (2015), Marissa Fichter (2015), Jourdan Fichter (2015), Austin Fichter (2015), Jean Fichter (1981), Corby Fichter (1980)

 

  • Where did you study abroad?
    • Heidi: A semester in Greece, a summer in China, and travel courses to Brazil and Australia.
    • Adam: Travel courses to Argentina, Spain, and Tanzania
    • Austin: Travel courses to Argentina, Spain, and Australia
  • How did studying abroad benefit you?
    • Heidi: Studying abroad gave me new opportunities and experiences that I would not have gotten any time else. I learned to step out of my comfort zone into challenging situations that helped me grow as a person, developed a love for different cultures, and made friends all around the world.
    • Adam: Studying abroad gave me a new and more accurate perspective of the world and the agriculture industry that otherwise I would not have been exposed to.
    • Austin: The two main ways I benefited from studying abroad were a clearer understanding of the global agricultural industry and a deeper appreciation for other cultures. I also benefited a lot from the friendships I built with faculty and other students on the trips.
  • What was your favorite study abroad experience and why?
    • Heidi: I am struggling to answer this because every experience was so valuable in different ways. I am going to choose a top two - the travel course to Australia and the semester in Greece. The Australia trip was my first major trip out of the U.S. and it showed me how much I love traveling. The semester in Greece was unique and memorable because I was taking classes there and there for a longer period of time. My friends and I were able to have adventures every weekend in different places within Greece and all around Europe.
    • Adam: My favorite project was doing market research in East Africa for value-added Iowa soybean products. One of my favorite memories is a day-long safari in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
    • Austin: That's a really hard question to answer, but my favorite study abroad experience was probably Argentina. I'm choosing Argentina because Dr. Sergio Lence helped lead the trip, and we were able to visit his family's farm in Argentina as part of our time abroad.
  • Why should students consider studying abroad?
    • Heidi: Students should consider studying abroad because it is a priceless opportunity to see the world, meet new people, and make lifelong memories. I can't stress enough how much I learned, matured, and became more adaptable from these global experiences.
    • Austin: There's no better time to experience other cultures and other parts of the global ag industry. You'll be more well rounded personally and professionally because of it.
  • How has studying abroad benefitted you after college?
    • Adam: One lesson I learned through international travel is that people are people, despite apparent differences. Respect and relationship are cross-cultural. These lessons have been applicable in work and community post-college.
    • Austin: I have a better understanding of the global factors that influence ag in the U.S., which directly benefits my work. There are so many benefits to experiencing new cultures and seeing how people live outside of the U.S.
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