Jacalyn Gronek
Student spotlight details
Jacalyn decided to enrol on our International Politics Summer School as she wanted to ensure her knowledge of European politics and international relations was up to date, to assist her day job as an international banker back home in Chicago, Illinois.
'I have a BSc degree in Business Education and an MA in International Relations from the London School of Economics. Subsequently, I worked at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, before returning to Chicago. After teaching Consumer Economics, I entered the field of International Banking, where I worked as a Vice President and Senior Business Development Officer. I also volunteer at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where I was Vice Chair of the Governing Members.
'The International Politics Summer School was my first experience of studying with the Department and I decided to apply as part of my job role as an international banker is to provide training on global trade to clients and internal personnel. I am frequently asked questions concerning Europe and the UK, and when I graduated from the London School of Economics Brexit was not an issue and the European Union had yet to add several new members. So it's critical that I keep abreast of current international relations and European Union politics in order to best advise my clients and prospective clientele. Needless to say, the opportunity to study politics at such a renowned institution as the University of Oxford was not only an honor and a privilege, but also an opportunity to broaden my knowledge of how politics affects economics.
'I believe my age and maturity worked in my favor. I had already been a teacher and international banking professional in the work force. I viewed my acceptance into the program as a true privilege and honor and looked forward to challenging myself. The sense of accomplishment that I felt after completing the program probably outweighed any pressure that I might have felt had I been younger.
'I really appreciated the variety of teaching methods, from focused lectures on my chosen topic to seminars on subjects beyond my area of study. The course encouraged a lot of student participation and interaction, whether through presentations, Q&A sessions, or simply engaging with others.
'But what I found most rewarding and enjoyable about the course was the incredible diversity of the students and learning about their different backgrounds and cultures. Having access to renowned facilities, such as the Bodleian Library, was an added bonus and I enjoyed sightseeing in Oxford during my free time.
'I hope to never stop learning and look forward to completing more courses – both at Oxford University and elsewhere!'
