Ciao (Hello)! My name is Thao Tran, and I’m so excited to be your Reach the World traveler! I was born in Rach Gia, Vietnam, and moved to the United States when I was 8 years old. Now I’m 21 and a rising senior studying marketing at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. I love cooking, trying new restaurants, painting, skiing, traveling, and watching movies.
This fall, I’m studying abroad in Milan, Italy, through the IES Abroad program. I’ll be taking classes in Managing Luxury Fashion Companies, International Marketing, and Digital Marketing. I’m also learning Italian and Italy's culture to connect more with the people around me.
This opportunity was made possible through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program and other scholarships through my university. As a first-generation student, I don’t take this support for granted, and I hope to show other students like me that studying abroad is possible. I can’t wait to share my adventures with you this semester!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by visiting www.gilmanscholarship.org.
