CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If there was a person who embodied age-old sayings like, “never second-guess yourself,” or “don’t hold yourself back,” then that person would be none other than Thomas Sanders.
But why is Sanders, who is an advertising major at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the personification of all these phrases that advisors have been saying since the dawn of time?
The answer is simple — Sanders proved that sometimes all it takes to kick open the door of opportunity and pursue opportunities that interest you is to just say, “Hi.”
“I’m Going to Make the Most Out of This”
Sanders enrolled in a spring 2024 student exchange program at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) in the Netherlands, and in a little over half a year he took his study abroad experience to the next level by actively weaving himself into Amsterdam’s social tapestry and taking advantage of every opportunity available to him.
In addition to being a full-time student and taking business and public relations classes, he made new friends, explored the city, got a work visa and took up a part-time job at a Turkish café. Then, he wrapped up his time abroad with a full-time internship.
He said that opportunity came when representatives from Het PR Bureau (HPB), a local PR agency, gave a presentation during one of his public relations classes. They talked about who they were, what they did, and he said they mentioned that they were always looking for interns.
“They said that anyone could apply, and you didn’t have to speak Dutch,” Sanders said. “Right after that presentation, I went up to them and was like, ‘Hi, my name is Thomas. I’m from the University of Illinois and I’m studying abroad here and was wondering if you guys had any available internship opportunities.’”
Sanders was the only student to walk up to the representatives from the agency.
And he said doing so led to an interview process, which then led to him successfully getting the internship.
Even though Sanders didn’t speak fluent Dutch, he said he didn’t let that or anything else hold him back.
“Honestly, my mindset was, ‘I’m going to make the most out of this,’” he said. “When I was talking to my parents on the phone (after finishing classes and before starting the internship), they told me that they wanted me to come home, but I was like, ‘No, guys, I have a life here. This is not just me studying abroad. I have a life here, I have friends, a regular job, I am studying, working, and living here. I need to make the most of this.’”
“The CEO Knows My Name”
Sanders said his month-long internship was enough time to garner enough experience to set him up for future success. Plus, the amount of work he was doing gave him a taste of what to expect in the workforce.
He worked on the strategy and creative team during his internship. There, he assisted with projects, conducted research for clients, and pitched some of his own ideas.
For example, he offered ways to promote the release of a musical for a local theater, and he did research for Sony Music Entertainment.
“(Sony was) looking to work with HPB, and the agency put together a presentation for Sony representatives showcasing what the agency had to offer. I helped on that presentation, and I learned after (executives) shared the presentation that Sony wanted to move forward with the company. That was cool to have a role in that.”
But Sanders said although he was given the opportunity to be an active player in the company, it wasn’t like that at first.
His days were a little slow in the beginning, but that all changed when he introduced himself to someone in the office that he hadn’t met.
“One of my coworkers came in and after I introduced myself, I said to her, ‘Hey, if you need help with anything just let me know. I have a free day with no meetings planned,’” he said. “Well, it turned out that she was the CEO of the company.”
Sanders said the CEO took his offer and tasked him with helping her move several projects forward such as a presentation she was doing for a woman empowerment press conference.
She also invited him to attend that conference, among other things.
“The CEO knows my name because I made myself known there and I think that’s really important to always do (at internships),” he said.
Before starting the internship, Sanders said he knew what industries he saw himself in but wasn’t sure which one he wanted to pursue. After he finished his internship and when he got back to the states, he said he realized that PR was something he could actively do on a day-to-day basis because of the experience he had.
“The Worst That Can Happen is You’re Told, ‘No’”
Sanders said he started his study abroad journey after finding inspiration from his friends who participated in short-term study opportunities.
He said he started researching programs his sophomore year and looked at all sorts of experiences, but it was his study abroad advisor in the College of Media who was instrumental in helping him find where he belonged.
“He gave me tips on what to consider for each program I looked at and he ultimately allowed me to think for myself and picture where I saw myself,” he said. “There’s a lot of things you have to consider when studying abroad outside of just picking a program. You have to think about the language barrier, what program it is, the culture of the country you’re going to, and so on. You have to find what works for you and it does take a lot of time.”
Sanders said he didn’t make his decision in a day or a couple of weeks. In fact, it was a couple of months before he realized what he truly wanted.
And the program he picked was perfect for him. It was a student-exchange program through the Gies College of Business, it offered courses in public relations, which was his minor, and it was in a country he didn’t think he would ever visit.
In the end, he said he learned how to adapt, and how to try new things. He made friends with the locals, he carved out a place for himself, and although he said he wishes he studied on campus more instead of just in his dorm, he has no regrets.
That’s something he said he hopes other students who study abroad keep in mind— to have no regrets and to just try to put themselves out there.
After all, all it takes is a simple, “hi.”
“The worst that can happen is you’re told, ‘no,’” Sanders said. “But it’s still better to try and get rejected than to sit back and be like, ‘Oh, I wish I did that while I was (studying abroad), I wish I actually said something.”
To view his resume or to learn more about Thomas Sanders and his work please visit his website at https://ts29.myportfolio.com.
Analicia Haynes is the storyteller and social media specialist at Illinois International. She can be reached at ahayn2@illinois.edu.