Maddie Ehret is a senior studying broadcast journalism with the goal of entering the public relations industry upon graduation. She spent the spring semester of her junior year studying abroad and growing professionally and personally at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy.
While abroad, Maddie had countless learning experiences that uniquely prepared her for a career in public relations and news. Her program gave her the once in a lifetime opportunity to attend a live recording of a morning news show in Milan. But the learning extended beyond the classroom and set.
When Maddie was in Europe, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame fire occurred. This news shook the world, but especially Maddie because she had walked past the Parisian monument just the day before as a part of her spring break travels. Being able to witness this event as it unfolded gave her a real-life look at the way that crisis PR works in Western European countries.
On a personal level, Maddie took a great lesson from this tragic event.
"I stared back in awe at the undeniable beauty the Cathedrale Notre-Dame epitomized. I don't know what is was about thtat day, April 14th to be exact, that compelled me to fixate on the monument. But I'm really glad that I did because the next day it was on fire. That seemingly normal taxi ride as we concluded our spring break in Paris is one that I will never forget. Being close to such a sad event was a wake up call reminding me that every opportunity in life should be taken before it's gone. Whether it's holding onto one last look or embracing any experience that comes my way, it's a reminder that life is oh-so-fragile. It's a reminder to jst do the thing. Because of this re-instilled urrgency to live life to its fullest, I hiked Monte Brè in Switzerland, and it was one of the coolest things I've ever done."