Study Abroad Spotlight: Rebecca Mardikes

Rebecca Mardikes

Gaasbeek Castle

Brussels

Rebecca Mardikes

Brussels, Belgium, as the capital of the EU and headquarters for NATO, is the ideal location for one journalism student who dreams of living in Europe in the future.

Rebecca Mardikes is interning for Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Brussels through the MU Journalism Abroad program. As an intern, Mardikes works with clients, helps manage the H+K twitter account and writes and edits articles for the H+K Brussels website. She is working on an article about the importance of writing as a skill for professionals.

“Brussels is the best location in Europe for journalists,” Mardikes says. “There are many influential and inspiring journalists and communicators located in Brussels. It is an international city that has an ever-growing diversity.”

Mardikes hopes to become a public relations consultant after graduating. Thanks to the hands-on experience given to her at the Missouri School of Journalism, Mardikes has been able to excel at her internship to prepare her for that career.

“I am using knowledge from my public relations course, cross-cultural journalism, communications law and principles of strategic communication,” Mardikes says. “The Missouri Method has proven itself to be informative and significant worldwide and has prepared me for working in the European Union.”

Mardikes has been able to see many tourist sites all around Europe. She had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz in Poland, the Berlin Wall in Germany and the Gaasbeek Castle in Belgium. In Paris, she also saw the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Notre Dame and Champs-Elysees.

After studying abroad in Brussels, Mardikes encourages students to step outside of their comfort zones and do the same.

“I recommend everyone to challenge and push themselves in work, class and in travel,” Mardikes says. “I believe it is an eye opening experience to travel alone. Planning and traveling your own trip abroad gives you a great since of independence.” ScheduleSchedule

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