Tuesday, 25 October 2016

Will Heikkinen - Language Training

Will Heikkinen occupies an enviable position when it comes to his ability to communicate with others. He went to high school in Andover, Massachusetts, and he made a big step across the drink when he was ready to move on to the next level. This intrepid young student relocated to Madrid, Spain. He enrolled in Nebrija University, and he studied Spanish language and Latin culture in general. The teaching that he received in the classroom was part of the process, but he also got first-hand experience through his ongoing interactions with people in the city. Plus, he earned money while he was there teaching English to local children. In addition to his fluency in Spanish, he also speaks Italian, so Will Heikkinen can communicate effectively in three different languages.

If you are a young person who is looking ahead toward the future, you may want to consider the value of language training. During our current era, we live in a global economy, and Americans routinely conduct business with people from all over the world. Spanish and Italian language skills could be quite useful if you are a business person or a government employee. However, there are many other foreign tongues that you can learn to give yourself a competitive edge. For example, imagine going to a job interview with a company that does business in Asia. If you can tell the hiring manager that you are fluent in Japanese and Chinese, you will be setting yourself apart from the competition. Will Heikkinen has earned this type of advantage, and you may want to consider following his lead.

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Will Heikkinen - Assessing Opportunities

Will Heikkinen is a student who is matriculating at the College of William and Mary. This is a public research university, and it is situated in the historic city of Williamsburg, Virginia. When you are attending an institution of higher learning, you are creating future opportunities for yourself. It is important to think long and hard about the courses of study that you take so that you maximize your potential. If you identify your interests and your talents and apply them appropriately, many doors may open for you after you graduate. Your major is going to be key, and you can augment your major with a carefully chosen minor course of study.

Government is the major that Will Heikkinen has chosen, and this makes a lot of sense, because he is very interested in political theory. He speaks three languages, and Spanish is one of them. In fact, before he enrolled in the College of William and Mary, he attended Nebrija University in Madrid, Spain. He studied Spanish Language and Culture, and he also took advantage of an opportunity to teach English to local children. When you combine a background in government and political theory with a firm understanding of the Spanish language and Latin culture in general, you have a powerful mix.

Someone who has this type of background could potentially pursue various different career paths. Since he is a multilingual individual who has teaching experience, he could choose to become an educator. This is a worthy field of endeavor, and we always need more teachers. Plus, there are multiple different levels. Elementary school, middle school, and high school teachers can enjoy rewarding careers, and some people enjoy working with children and/or teenagers. However, someone who has a passion for academia could aim for a doctorate degree and a career as a college professor.

Teaching is one possibility, but it is not the only one. When you have a degree in Government, and you are a Hispanic culture expert, you could potentially enter the political arena. Someone with this background could potentially work for a government agency or an elected official. Spanish language skills combined with political knowledge could also lead to a position in the diplomatic realm. Plus, if you embark on a career path in government on any level, and you continue to build on your knowledge, and you may actually be able to run for office in your own right someday if you ever choose to do so.

These are a few of the paths that a multilingual government professional may choose to take, but there are many others. No one has a crystal ball, and sometimes surprising, unexpected offers are extended. The future holds many possibilities for students like Will Heikkinen who obtain the appropriate educational underpinning.