Final Reflections ? Next Step Interning In Israel ? BUSINESS ...

By Jennifer Glick

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In April of your senior year of high school, you make a seemingly life or death decision: where you want to go to college.? By this point in my senior year I had already participated in a dozen college interviews, visited numerous college campuses and still did not know where I wanted to go.? When I visited Washington University in St. Louis that April, I hoped for a sign to tell me that Wash U was the right place for me, and I got one.? My father and I chanced upon an informational meeting for Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Israel, and we simultaneously decided that I belonged at Wash U.

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The actual course more than lived up to my expectations: we heard from numerous influential guest speakers, learned about the economic history of Israel, and visited many of the places in our readings over spring break, when we traveled to Israel.? I had previously visited Israel with my family, but this trip was an entirely different experience.? Israel?s expertise in the business sector, especially in high-tech sectors, combined with the willingness of Israelis to share their personal and professional stories, resulted in a trip perspective unlike any other I previously experienced.

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Many of the presentations fascinated me, but the Zell Program at the IDC stood out as one of the most memorable events during the trip.? The Zell Program helps young entrepreneurs to launch their ideas, and two of the participants walked us through their innovative product, called Hoc Spot.? Hoc Spot allows people in the same room to easily share files without the need to collect contact information.? The two presenters were extraordinarily passionate about their work, and this passion kept the audience engaged.? Although I do not aspire to be an entrepreneur, I greatly enjoy hearing about the innovative ideas of others.

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Visiting the Kotel on Shabbat was also an extremely meaningful experience.? Although the evening was cold and rainy, a large group of Israeli soldiers danced and sang in front of the Western Wall.? We read, of course, about the religious significance of Jerusalem, but watching those soldiers made all of our readings come alive.? It is important to remember that even though our course focused mainly on the business side of Israel, there are many other factors, including religion, that impact Israeli economics.

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This course taught me a significant amount about business in Israel, and I hope to continue learning about this field in the future.? The class also inspired me to search for internships abroad, and I now plan to intern in Israel next summer.? I will never stop learning about Israel, and this course allowed me to learn about Israel from a business perspective.? It was a great class with an unforgettable trip, and I gained so much from participating in the experience.

Jennifer ? Olin Business School ? Sophomore ? Illinois

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