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Atlanta and Europe and Disney, Oh My! Conquering Goals One City at a Time

December 19, 2024
By Chloe Arrington

Madison Debruin knew she wanted to be an engineer from age 10, with a career goal of becoming a Walt Disney Imagineer. The mechanical engineering student, minoring in industrial engineering, is now in her fourth year at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and recently completed a semester abroad at Georgia Tech-Europe (GTE) in Metz, France.

"I always wanted to go to Europe but I had never left the United States," said Debruin.

Being a history buff at heart, the opportunity to study abroad at GTE was a dream come true for her. "All the books I read as a little girl were about London, Paris, or Italy. When I learned about GTE, I jumped at the opportunity to see all the places I had only read about."

The GTE satellite campus aims to make students feel prepared and secure when they embark on their adventure abroad. They are supported by the school through the process, encouraged to see and experience as much as they can during their time abroad, and they have a safe and comfortable home base with assigned dorms and residence buildings. Classes are taught by Georgia Tech faculty, and according to Debruin, the smaller classes allow for a more personal and enriching learning experience and environment.

The city of Metz is also a transportation hub, allowing students to explore the city and beyond with ease. "The city itself was beautiful and vibrant, and it was so easy to get wherever I wanted to go on the weekends," said Debruin.

This ease of travel led her to find one of the most surprising parts of her semester abroad. "I didn't realize that studying abroad would make me so much more independent and much more of a planner," she said.

Debruin challenged herself and managed to visit somewhere different every weekend. "I was able to see all of my dream destinations, but it took a lot of planning, budgeting, and decision-making!"

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Although Debruin had never done anything like this before, she put aside the fear of being alone in a different country, quickly made friends to join her on her adventures, and now looks back on it as nothing less than liberating and joyful.

A trip to Italy over spring break stands out among the many of Debruin's adventures. "We somehow managed to visit Rome, Venice, Pompeii, Cinque Terre, and Florence," Debruin reminisced.

Though the food, art, and cities were breathtaking, the Roman ruins left the most profound impact. "Visiting the ruins was one of the best experiences of my life. I remember hiking to the top of the Palatine Hill in utter disbelief of where I was, soaking in the history and realizing how lucky I was to be there."

Debruin has just one piece of advice for anyone considering studying abroad: "Do it!" Though it may sound cliche when people say it's a life-changing experience, Debruin says it's genuinely true. "Even if you're nervous about being away from family, it's an amazing opportunity to visit wonderful places and build a community in a different country. Plus, traveling as a student is the cheapest you can travel!"

As for the status of becoming a Walt Disney Imagineer, Debruin is currently interning with Walt Disney Imagineering as part of the set decorating team.

"It's been an amazing experience working with so many creative, talented people, and I hope to return full-time after completing my degree," she said.

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Want To Experience Georgia Tech-Europe?

Georgia Tech Europe offers several ways students can experience studying abroad. To learn more about the various programs, visit Georgia Tech-Europe for full details.