Hello! My name is Ivan Lee and I am currently a final year BSc International Management student. I’ve just returned from a year-long exchange at the University of Southern California, where I spent one of the most memorable years of my degree. I’ve always loved the idea of exploring new places and cultures, so getting the opportunity to live and study in Los Angeles was incredibly exciting.

Studying at USC felt very different from what I was used to in Manchester. The classes were much more practical and participation-focused, and attendance even counted towards your final grade, which created a very engaged atmosphere. The class sizes were smaller too, more like seminars, which made discussions feel a lot more personal. It also helped with making friends, since you weren’t just another face in a big lecture hall and you naturally ended up talking to the people around you. Some modules also took place in small breakout rooms with one-way mirrors, like the ones you see in interrogation rooms. It was unusual at first, but it made group work strangely memorable. One of the highlights of the academic side was my Global Strategy class. We actually travelled to Mexico to learn about international expansion directly from local companies, which was the first time I’d ever experienced course content in a real-world setting. Another thing I really enjoyed was how USC lets you take sports classes for credit. I took soccer, tennis, and weightlifting, which helped me stay active and added a fun balance to my timetable.

Outside my classes, I tried to make the most of everything Los Angeles had to offer. Living there meant having countless things to do beyond campus. Some of my favourite memories came from the small day trips I took with friends, whether it was spending an afternoon at the beach, going to the gun range, or playing Topgolf after classes. We also explored places a bit further out, like day trips to San Diego or exploring different neighbourhoods on weekends. Beyond the West Coast, I was fortunate enough to travel across the country as well. I went to New York for the energy of the city and the famous sights I had grown up seeing in films. The trip became even more memorable when I randomly met Rio Ferdinand, which felt unreal for me as a huge Manchester United fan. Throughout the year I also bumped into a few celebrities including Aaron Paul, Snoop Dogg, and Michael Bublé, which felt like something that could only happen in Los Angeles. I also went to Texas for its juicy brisket and to Florida for the crazy parties. Experiencing so many different parts of the United States made the exchange feel even richer and showed me how much you can learn by exploring beyond your campus bubble.

My year abroad taught me far more than I expected. Looking back, the memories, the people, and the personal growth are things I’ll carry with me long after graduation. The friendships I made along the way have stayed with me, and we still keep in contact now even though we’re all back in different parts of the world. Living in a new place pushed me to understand myself better, become more confident, and appreciate the value of stepping outside my comfort zone. It made me realise how much growth can happen when you give yourself space to explore something new. If you’re still considering going on exchange, I really encourage you to speak to past students who have been through the experience. Hearing their stories made a huge difference for me, and it might do the same for you. And if you ever want to connect with globally minded students or get advice about exchange opportunities, our new society, Global Exchange and Management Society (GEMS), is a great place to start! 

Written by Yi Nok (Ivan Lee), a current BSc International Management student. 

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