Stacy Cho – Fall 13
In what city or town did you grow up in?
Bethesda, MD
Where are you currently living?
Chicago, IL
What was your major?
Media, Culture, and Communication
Why did you choose to study away at NYU Sydney?
It was always a dream of mine to travel to Australia and NYU Sydney was the perfect opportunity for me to fulfill that dream. While most of my friends studied abroad in Prague/London/Florence, I wanted a different experience and the opportunity to live out my Australian adventure.
How would you describe your experience at NYU Sydney?
Five years later, I still think about the amazing time I had at NYU Sydney. I was there for the Fall 2013 semester, which was NYU Sydney’s second semester in operation. There were only about twenty students in my cohort, which meant that we bonded quickly and did almost everything together. Since our group was so small, we were able to go on a ton of excursions that probably wouldn’t have worked out with a larger group. The professors I had were not only wonderful people, but they were also engaging experts in their respective fields. Outside of the academic experience, Sydney is an incredible place with so much to see and do, regardless of what your interests are. I personally was (and still am) very into the music scene, so I went to a couple music festivals while I was there. Bondi and Manly Beach were not too far if you wanted to be by the water, and Darling Harbour was also nearby if you wanted to go on a nice walk during the day or night. All in all, my NYU Sydney experience exceeded all of my expectations.
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was Global Media with Sacha Molitorisz. Other than the fact that it was related to my major, I really enjoyed this class because it provided an interesting look into the role of media within an Australian context.
What was your favorite trip, excursion (Student Life or class related)?
I can’t pick just one, but some of my favorite memories were surfing at Collaroy Beach, kayaking around the Royal National Park, seeing my favorite DJs at Listen Out, traveling to Melbourne and Cairns/Port Douglas with my suitemates during fall break, and then traveling solo to New Zealand after my final exams.
Where are you currently working/studying?
I now live in Chicago, where I work in digital ad sales for an ad tech company.
When thinking about your experience at NYU Sydney what stands out to you most?
The people that I met. My time in Sydney was incredible, but my classmates and the faculty made the experience that much more special. Our small, close-knit community really allowed us to get to know one another on a personal level, something that is often hard to come by at a school like NYU. Within a week, we were all hanging out in each other’s rooms.. Aside from the people, Australia is a beautiful and unique country. There really is no place like it.
How has your experience at NYU Sydney impacted life after college?
My experience at NYU Sydney made me realize just how important it is to set aside time for yourself to travel somewhere new. Once you join the workforce, the opportunity to travel is much harder to come by. Experiencing a new country or culture keeps you grounded and encourages you to embrace diversity of thought.