Back to College

Today in the classroom, we’re joined by someone who’s desire for living a life full of experience landed him in the US. He first came to South Dakota on exchange in middle school, before deciding to finish the rest of his high school years in the US. After considering options to move to a bigger city, this saw opportunity right in front of him and enrolled into Augustana University. Battling factors outside his control, this person returned back to his country of origin, just one year into his college journey. Becoming fed up with University in Taiwan, this person changed his trajectory again and leaped into the work force. Calling from Taiwan, please enjoy the conversation with Jerry.

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Chapters

00:00:00 Trailer

00:00:52 Intro

00:01:52 Welcome Jerry

00:02:33 Chemistry Major

00:05:09 Asian Expectations

00:08:44 Parent's Influence

00:14:07 Schooling in Taiwan vs US

00:16:57 Taiwanese School System

00:23:40 US Exchange in Middleschool

00:31:06 Greatest Moment in Highschool

00:33:05 Culture Shock

00:37:08 Fitting in with US culture

00:41:27 Decision to keep studying in US

00:45:04 Different types of Student Visas

00:47:26 US Highschool to US College

00:51:58 Once in a lifetime experience

01:02:10 Studying the toughest major

01:04:31 Leaving College Early

01:12:30 Ankylosing Spondylitis

01:21:54 Advice for International Students

01:23:06 Letter Grade

01:25:28 Leaving College to Work

01:31:42 Dream Job

01:35:00 Do you need a college degree?

Today in the classroom, we’re continuing on with another in person guest. This person’s sense of adventure was what drove him to study abroad and land himself in the US. Starting in the Fall of 2019, this person was nothing but excited to start the next, year long chapter of his life at Augustana. If this person wasn’t busy in the Elmen taking PE classes for his Education major, he’d be staying active either upstairs in the weightroom, outside playing soccer, or with the Track and Field team training his shotput. Las Vegas, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Bozeman, were just some of the stops along the way on this persons college journey. Using his degree to become a teacher for 3 years in Norway, this person was again seeking a new adventure. He packed his life up into a suitcase and started fresh in Australia, where he is currently working with my brother Max in sales, please enjoy the conversation with Stig.

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Epic Norwegian Road Trip

Lost in Montana

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Chapters:

00:00 Episode Trailer

01:04 Who is Stig?

02:07 Welcome Stig

03:30 Finding Augustana from Norway

04:26 Continuing Education Studies

05:35 Journey to the US

07:18 The best trip ever (Black Hills)

13:06 What made US college unique?

13:55 The classes

15:00 The great American Road Trip1

8:35 Border Security

21:24 Vegas Invasion

24:57 American Food

28:22 Cheap thrills

30:20 Party like the movies

31:23 Making Friends

32:31 Sickness for the fitness

34:48 Get lost in Montana

40:09 Joining the Track Team

45:02 Practicum back home

47:07 Teaching post degree

47:41 Moving to Australia

Today in the classroom, we’re joined by our very first in person guest! This person’s dream from a young age was to play college basketball in the US. After hanging up the boots off the back of a super fun and successful debut basketball season, this person was left wanting a new challenge. Halfway through his junior year, he came to his senses and realised that the Midwest is best and transferred to Augustana University. Over coming a few hurdles to begin with, he quickly found his feet, got his degree done, but more importantly, had the time of his life. Finishing with a major in Business & a minor in finance, this person is currently working in Sales at a technology company in Sydney. Recording all the way from the land down under, please enjoy the conversation with my twin brother, Max.

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Chapters:

01:42-Introduction

02:43-Welcome Max

04:34-Finding a College in America

06:54-Making the choice

10:33-Journey from Australia to US

14:11-First Friends

15:06-Other International Students

16:49-Highschool level classes?

20:27-Decision to transfer

23:05-College Basketball - Dream come true

27:57-Crazy basketball moments

34:36-Once in a lifetime experiences in Boston

36:16-Shifting Schools

38:46-Class at Augie Vs ENC

41:06-Australian Charm

42:38-Global Exports Intern

44:41-2AM Volleyball

46:25-Friends from all over the world

48:08-Elite Professors

52:01-School Events that are actually fun!

54:53-Letter Grade

56:10-Your unique journey

Today in the classroom, we’re are joined by someone who always had the dream of playing college sport in America.

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Today in the classroom, we’re are joined by someone who came from a small town in Tunisia. This person was itching for new experiences and didn’t hesitate when they got the chance to study in the US. His sense of adventure & desire to try new things lead him to discover his love for Sushi amongst the rides and rollercoasters in the Mall of America. You could always count on this person somehow getting even more jacked in the Elmen centre or playing soccer with his international & American friends. After his time at Augie, he finished his Bachelor’s degree back home where he made the decision to keep studying & to go abroad again. Calling from Vienna, Austria, where he is halfway through his PHD in Economics, please enjoy the conversation with Ramzi.

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Today in the classroom, we’re are joined by someone who straddles the line between international and domestic Student.

This person moved from Ecuador to Sioux Falls when they were 12 years old spending many years struggling to fit in. It wasn’t until his time at college where he finally connected with other international students he felt comfortable and understood.

This person is a well rounded genius graduating Augustana as a Religion & modern foreign languages major, with minors in Spanish & biology and unofficially philosophy.

He has since become a Blue Devil attending one of the biggest colleges in the US, pursuing a graduate degree in Religious studies at Duke University. Calling from Duke in North Carolina, please enjoy the chat with Cesar.

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Today in the classroom, we’re are joined by someone who came straight off the plane into the icy tundra of a South Dakota winter.

He came to the US for 1 semester as part of the Global UGRAD program, where in his very first class learnt to ski. He had a blast because in his country there is no snow.

After his semester at Augie, he came back to Sioux Falls at a later date to teach at a local Spanish school.

Calling from his country of origin, El Salvador, please enjoy the chat, with Emerson.

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This episode we’re are joined by our first American guest! With Mexican and Maltese in her blood, this person was not shy hanging out with the international students. Following her sense of Adventure she did two study abroad trips to both Greece and Spain each unlocking new perspectives you can’t learn in a classroom. Officially finishing with Art and Spanish Majors and a entrepreneurship minor, this person decided to further here studies after Augustana. She obtained a certification in Kitchen and Bathroom Design which has helped her land her current role as Design assistant at a design/build firm. Calling from the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota, please enjoy this conversation with Sofia Preciado!

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Chapters:

00:00:00 Episode Trailer

00:00:55 Intro

00:01:47 College Culture

00:05:02 College friends from high school

00:06:47 Options of colleges

00:09:32 Family in Sioux Falls

00:10:27 Goals in going to College

00:12:47 What was arriving day like?

00:17:27 Scared / Excited during Welcome Week?

00:19:07 Augies prestige and favourite classes

00:19:47 Dr. O’Hara — Favourite professor

00:20:47 Least favourite class

00:21:47 Studying abroad in Greece and Spain

00:28:17 Why Spanish Major? Why Spanish?

00:31:02 Fitting back in post Spain

00:33:30 Augie as a letter grade?

00:36:17 Why the international friendship group?

00:39:32 Dating in College and their relationship

00:45:47 Superman and Blonde wig during Halloween

00:46:37 Halloween Highlights

00:48:57 Hardest thing faced at College?

00:50:47 College Regrets

00:51:47 Struggle with depression

00:57:17 Using your degree

01:02:07 Was it all worth it?

01:04:32 Advice to people thinking about college

Today in the classroom, we’re are joined by someone who was super excited to come on the podcast. This person loved her college experience so much despite the low moments she faced.

All the long hours at work and late nights finishing homework has grown her into the wonderful person she is today. Coming from such a close family in Ecuador it was incredibly difficult for her to say goodbye but after a few tears at the beginning her heart reminded her she was in the right place. The experience she gained working all her jobs at college combined with her Business and Economics degree, has lead to her working a dream level job at an experience consultancy acquiring new customers.

Calling from the place where it all happened, Sioux Falls, please enjoy the conversation with Denni.

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Welcome Back to College! For this episode, make sure you've got your rulers out and your pencil sharpened because today in the classroom, we've got another amazing guest. Born in Japan and raised in China, I first met this person on the famous Black Hills trip where our bond has been tight every day since. He apparently loved college so much that after graduating with a degree in physics and engineering, he has continued his studies in the US with a Ph.D. almost within his grasp. Calling from Manhattan, Kansas. Please enjoy this conversation with Naoki Iwamoto!

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