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Many aspiring writers choose to spend time in Europe studying and immersing themselves in the culture.
For Ryan Spitz ’08 (Princeton Junction, N.J.), a semester abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, not only held an internship for a magazine marketed towards high net worth English speakers in the country, but also an increased understanding of international law and French language.
“I chose to study in Geneva because I had initially wanted a banking internship, and Geneva is one of the banking capitals of the world,” says the philosophy and economics & business double major. “I’m also part Swiss, and being immersed in the culture over there really helped me learn more about myself and my family.”
Spitz’s background in philosophy enhanced his experience.
“My time in Europe reaffirmed my interest in philosophy and the difference in cultures between America and other countries,” he says. “It’s odd that America, one of the world’s economic powerhouses, also seems to have a large population of people who are unhappy.”
Spitz observed that although wealth may not be as widespread overseas, the Swiss people appeared happier.
“While many of the countries in Europe are less wealthy than the U.S., many more people seemed to be content with their lives,” he says. “My travels in Europe, along with the many people I met on those travels, suggest that this discrepancy is a result of a difference in fundamental values. Philosophy, particularly ethics, is concerned with the nature of those fundamental values.”
Spitz plans to write professionally upon graduation and believes all students should take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad.
“I greatly recommend studying abroad, whether it be through Lafayette or a different institution,” he says.
Prior to his experience abroad, Spitz worked as an intern at Lydian Wealth Management under the guidance of Jamie McLaughlin ’76, managing director of the firm’s New York office. Spitz is a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and a midfielder on the men’s lacrosse team.