Studying in the United States is definitely something that I would recommend for everyone

Studying in the United States is definitely something that I would recommend for everyone. I was exposed to so many different cultures and I learned so much during my time there. I went to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles for both my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Both were completely different experiences; different because I studied different fields, Business Administration for my undergraduate and Communication Management for my postgraduate program, but also different in terms of personal development. To this day, I kind of regret the fact that during my undergrad years I did not really mix with American or other foreign students outside of school. I was too much in my comfort zone because, in Los Angeles, there was never a lack of Indonesians. As a result, I did not grow as much as a person because my daily routine was not that different from that back home.

It was not until I entered grad school that I started to mingle with Chinese, Indian, European and American students from outside of Los Angeles. I was forced to do so because it was such a close knit group; classes only consisted of 15-20 students as opposed to the 100-plus people in undergrad classes. Even though we came from completely different cultures, I was surprised at how much we had in common, our passions, likes and dislikes, musical preferences, taste in movies, etc. And that way, I actually learned so much about all the rich cultures of different countries around the world. It opened up my horizons and made me even more curious and more motivated to learn because I saw the world from different perspectives.

Living in Los Angeles also meant that I was close to the center of the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood. Although I studied Business, I decided to take a Minor Degree in Communication in the Entertainment Industry because USC had a great program and resourceful professors in that field. It was a privilege because I could learn more about the history of the industry at school and see it in real life. The other advantage of studying in the United States is the wealth of resources. It is your job to make the most of it. I was very lucky because USC was the perfect school for me in terms of student body and curricula. I had a rich learning experience in various fields, including marketing, communication and film. I can honestly say that I found my passion while I was studying in Los Angeles and I came home with a great sense of purpose.