Kathy Withrow

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Kathy Withrow in Bruges, Belgium. Photos submitted

Kathy Withrow: senior in business and management systems

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Withrow at a Belgium candy shop.

 

Hometown: Ozark, Mo.

Life-changing experience: Withrow was the first S&T student to study abroad in Belgium. It was also her first time out of the country.

“It was definitely a culture shock! After the fun wore off, I got homesick and even considered coming home — but I’m so glad I stayed,” she says.

“I learned so much about the culture, but even more about myself,” Withrow says. “I did everything on my own there: learned to navigate a bus system that has no schedule, became a pretty good cook because you can’t buy pre-packaged food, and made use of my four years of high school French.”

More thoughts about study abroad: “If you are even remotely considering study abroad, do it. It’s so worth it,” she says. “It’s not cheap, but it will pay off in the end. And all my classes transferred — I didn’t fall behind in any way.”

After S&T: Withrow says she’d like to be a CEO, stay in the Midwest and have a big family. “But people’s plans change every day, so who knows what the future holds for me?,” she says.

When she’s not tucked away in Fulton Hall studying: She’s dancing. A member of the Ballet and Dance Club, Withrow has been ballet dancing since she was 7. Or she might be baking up a batch of spicy Belgium speculoos cookies or playing video games, her latest hobby.

More stuff she’s involved in: Withrow is a member of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri (ASUM), is an On-Track program advisor, and is an editor for the Rollamo yearbook.

By Linda Fulps

Learn more about study abroad programs at Missouri S&T.

Comments

  1. Tarun Biswas says

    This is true fact, about myself when I first came to Oman it was like same homesickness feeling, because I was born and brought up in India, Calcutta. When I settled here after 3 months almost feel free to stay and my working places all are Omanis & other expats. I also sharing with you my experience. Now cool cool