Participant Stories
Kelly Euell
In this letter, written to Jessica King's family just as she began her two-year experience abroad, Americans Abroad program participant and Jessica King Scholarship winner for 2007, Kelly Euell captures the energy, excitement, and nervousness of the new and the hope for the future that many of our program participants experience...
Dear King Family,
I am writing this letter to express my sincere gratitude for being this year's recipient of the Jessica King Scholarship. I am honored to receive this award and would like to thank you for the scholarship.
I am a recent graduate of Johnson and Wales University, Rhode Island, with a bachelor's degree in hotel management - cum laude. When I was a freshman in collage, a friend had me sign up with her to do a semester abroad in Sweden. I had never left the country before and with little expectations a suitcase, I studied in Europe. It was an amazing opportunity and a culture shock that I will never forget. I left the country at the end of the term with amazing friendships and an appreciation for travel. As I continued to study at school, at every opportunity I applied for study abroad programs which enabled me to spend a summer in Greece and also in Canada. I even left the Rhode Island campus to head to Denver, Colorado, where the sister college was located. These programs and opportunities continued to inspire me. As a result, I pursued three concentrations: International Hotel Management, Nature-Based Eco-Tourism, and Leadership Studies.
Upon graduating, I wanted an international experience that would allow me to best utilize my degree and have a learning opportunity outside of America. When Marriott International was interviewing at our school, I felt this would be a wonderful opportunity. After interviewing in Ireland, and following a series of phone interviews, I was accepted into the Marriott Graduate Program This coming Monday is my first day working at the Park Lane Marriott in London! It is an exciting opportunity to meet people from all over the world and become more experienced in my field.
The past few days have been hectic learning about the bus and 'tube' systems. The vocabulary is slightly different and I am learning that I need to adjust so they know what I am talking about. As a child, my mother used to read Peter Pan to me. Yesterday, I was walking about the city and spotted Big Ben. I was in awe of its enormous size and realized that I was experiencing history. How spectacular it was!
I love photography, so I have been taking pictures and hope to send you a few of where my travels have taken me in London thus far!
I am keeping a journal to mark my journey. As the days pass, I hope to share little pieces with you here and there. I am in love with the architecture from the former Scotland Yard to Buckingham Palace.
There are so many historic facts. I went on a tour and they pointed out a brick building where they did the inquest of who passed away on the Titanic! In America, you think of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie, but this is the historic locations where families mourned the loss of their loved ones.
On a more personal note, yes, I am nervous about living in London for two years. I am very close with my parents and sister and I will miss not taking a ferry to Long Island, New York on weekends. It will be my first Christmas without my family which will be hard.
Paul Coelho once said, "Whoever you are, whatever it is you do, when you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it." I truly believe this and with this conviction I will embrace my opportunity in London.
This scholarship will help me in meeting my goals. I am most humbly grateful.
Sincerely,
Kelly Euell
*All photos by Kelly Euell
