Pauline Flanagan 鈥�22 is one of 75 Americans selected to study and work in Germany as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals, a joint program of the United States Congress and the German Bundestag now in its 39th year.
During her year abroad, Flanagan will attend a two-month intensive language course, study at a German university, and complete an internship in marketing.
Pauline Flanagan
The Carroll School of Management graduate, who earned a degree in management with concentrations in marketing and information systems and a French minor, took five semesters of German at Boston College and learned about the CBYK fellowship from Professor Michael Resler in the Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies Department.
鈥淚 knew I wanted to live abroad for a period of time following my graduation from BC, especially since I didn鈥檛 get to study abroad due to the pandemic,鈥� said Flanagan, who departs on July 30. 鈥淚鈥檝e always had a connection with Germany because my grandmother immigrated from Germany to the United States when she was around my age. I saw this fellowship as an opportunity to explore that part of my identity and it really is a culmination of everything I involved myself in and worked for at BC.
鈥淒uring my year in Germany, I hope to boost my fluency in German, establish my own individual ties to the country, kickstart my career, and also positively represent my generation of Americans.鈥�
Flanagan is interested in the consumer-packaged goods industry, specifically skincare and beauty companies, and hopes to intern for a small sustainable company to gain insight into 鈥渉ow this industry that produces a lot of waste in production and consumption can adapt to do its part in combating climate change.鈥�
To become better acquainted with Germans in her host community, she plans to join a German synchronized skating team, a skill she practiced as a member of the synchronized skating club team at BC.
鈥淥ur newest cohort of young professionals, including Pauline, is well-equipped to further our core mission鈥攃reating lasting ties between the United States and Germany,鈥� said CBYX for Young Professionals Senior Director Daniel Villanueva. 鈥淲e are thankful these promising young leaders will be representing us in Germany this year.鈥�
Christine Balquist | University Communications | July 2022