International Studies & Programs

Networking at the Cannes Film Festival

The festival exposed me to industry leaders and cutting-edge trends, solidifying my goal of working at an advertising agency.

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Published: Thursday, 30 Jan 2025 Author: Oliver Angel

Oliver holding a Spartan flag in front of the Roman ColesiumThis summer, I participated in the Advertising and Public Relations a la Mediterranean study abroad program. This 5-week program is in affiliation with the American University of Rome. I took 8 credits of advertising classes, including one taught by an American University of Rome professor. The program was mixed academics and cultural immersion, providing me with experiences that have deepened my academic knowledge and personal development.

I lived in an apartment just a 20-minute walk from the Pantheon, I was a part of the history and unique feel of Rome every single day. My day-to-day was waking up, walking to a local cafe, going to class, and then exploring the culture of the city. I cooked meals for my roommates, explored hidden corners of the city, and visited world-renowned museums and cultural landmarks.

Academically we had hands-on projects and real-world case studies that deepened my understanding of advertising. Assignments often consisted of business observations and/or summaries of Italian cultural experiences. My favorite one of these assignments was going to a professional soccer game and making a PowerPoint presentation about it.

Meeting new people and planning international travel with them 5 days later is scary but was an awesome developmental experience. We went to Greece and the Amalfi Coast. These trips allowed us to see different Oliver sitting on a stone wall looking out over the seaparts of the world, different cultures, different foods, and most importantly create unforgettable memories with new friends. On the flight to Greece, I met a 20-year-old Greek college student and got to ask him about being a young person in Greece.

Another awesome experience the program gave me was attending the Cannes Lions Festival during the last week of the program. The festival exposed me to industry leaders and cutting-edge trends, solidifying my goal of working at an advertising agency. The networking opportunities and lessons learned will be beneficial to the start of my career.

Personally, this experience was very rewarding. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, fostering greater independence and confidence. I have never been in a non-English-speaking country, and this was a challenging adjustment. I learned to communicate more effectively in a non-English speaking environment, but I really wished I knew more of the language. Talking with Europeans about their country and cultures was the highlight of my program.

Before the program, I was quite nervous to be in a new environment, with a new culture, and with new people. But this program taught me how similar we all are. Whether it be students, young people, or other Europeans, we all face similar struggles and challenges that make us human. That is something I can tell you but experiencing it firsthand makes it resonate at a personal level.

I highly recommend studying abroad. Whether it’s academic enrichment, cultural immersion, or personal development, it is absolutely worth it. As someone who navigated this journey with enthusiasm and curiosity, I can confidently say that studying abroad has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

Name: Oliver Angel
Status: Junior
Major: Advertising Management
Hometown: Dearborn, Michigan
Program: Advertising and Public Relations a la Mediterranean