A semester in Hong Kong broadens his global viewpoint

Adam Justin sees the world with new eyes after studying for a semester in Hong Kong. A junior at the Carlson School, Justin is majoring in accounting and pursuing a second major in finance. “I chose the school because I believe that an international experience will make me more marketable when I graduate,” he says. “Studying at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)—one of the world’s premier academic institutions—was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

With a student population that’s approximately twenty-percent international, Justin’s classmates at HKUST came from every corner of the world. “As we’d get together, we’d share our different perspectives, values, histories, goals, and ambitions. From these exchanges, I started to see things in a new way. It made me realize that everyone has their own viewpoint, and every viewpoint is equally valid.” Justin also understands better what employment in a global marketplace means. “We’re not just competing with other Americans for jobs. We’re competing internationally.”

While abroad, Justin kept a journal which has been revealing to read since his return. “You know what you hope your semester abroad will be, but what I experienced was so much more,” he says. “Hong Kong now feels like a second home to me.”

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