How I immersed myself in the Fox community

As a Fox School of Business student, there are many ways to immerse yourself in the Temple community. Marketing major Rayna Friedrich, Class of 2025, shares how she plunged right into all that Temple has to offer—on campus, in Philadelphia and abroad.

Major decisions

The Consumer and Buyer Behavior course with assistant professor Jennifer Sundstrom-Fitzgerald was insightful and taught me aspects of marketing that I was not familiar with before. As a writing-intensive class, I was able to focus on some of my favorite brands and how they leverage consumers like me. Ultimately, it was the in-depth conversations in class that solidified my decision to major in marketing.

Taking flight

I chose to go on a Fox School Global Immersion to Portugal during spring break because I wanted to learn about a new country and culture through a business lens, all while earning course credit.

Traveling to both Porto and Lisbon, we spent our days learning about the business insights of Portugal, including its global cork and Port wine industries. During lunch and evenings, we learned about traditional foods, cultural customs and how the Portuguese spend their daily lives through town exploration and guided tours.

The immersion trip was an amazing experience and a time of personal growth, inspiration and cross-cultural sharing. It was a perfect way to explore the world without a lengthy time commitment. And when you travel with Temple University, you are surrounded by like-minded people who might have the same anxious and eager feelings about traveling abroad. Everyone is here to support each other and grow our cultural knowledge.

Honorable service

The Business Honors Student Association (BHSA) has been an integral part of my Fox journey. I started freshman year as a member and then served as vice president of marketing. This executive position expanded my communication skills as I was responsible for the organization’s social media, email marketing and all other forms of communication. This year, I have the honor to serve as president of BHSA where I oversee and assist with daily operations.

Major break

Some of my favorite places around Philly to take a break and meet friends include La Colombe café, Rittenhouse Square and my favorite of all— watching a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park. And nothing compares to the beautiful view of Philadelphia from the seventh floor of the Fox School’s Alter Hall. This summer, I will be out and about in Philadelphia, as I landed a digital marketing internship with Five Below at its headquarters downtown!

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Interested in traveling abroad? Explore Fox School Global Immersions set for Ghana, London and Japan in 2024.

Learn how to apply for a passport and visa and get details about applying for a passport scholarship.