Honors College student Adam Wood returned from his study abroad trip to Paris with more than just memories of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. He came home with a new outlook on his college experience.
“Studying abroad definitely opened my eyes,” he says. “Before that, I was less engaged on campus. But after getting to know so many great faculty and students on that trip, I realized how much more I could be doing.”
Wood, who is double-majoring in business and economics, took part in the three-week American Writers in Paris study abroad course following his freshman year. The three-credit seminar took Wood and a dozen of his classmates across the city on daily walking tours, museum visits and literary explorations, followed by free time to discover Paris on their own.
“There was a group of us who were inseparable. We did everything together,” says Wood, who used his Immersive Scholar award to pay for the trip.
Back on campus, Wood carried that momentum into his sophomore year. He became an Honors Information Peer in the Honors College, helping run programs such as a casino night at the Allen House. He also started working as a peer tutor for management precalculus and management calculus and as an academic success coach in the Athletic Department.
“I’ve always liked helping people with their studies, and now I get paid to do it,” he says.
A Bridgewater native, Wood originally enrolled at UMass Lowell as an engineering student. He switched to business before arriving on campus, drawn to finance after he began trading stocks at age 18. He recently added a second major in economics to deepen his math foundation.
“The math exposure from econ really sets you up for finance courses later on,” he says.
Wood applied to the Professional Co-op Program and is pursuing a corporate treasury internship, building on experience he gained working as a teller with Rockland Trust in the summer before his sophomore year.
Wood chose UMass Lowell for its combination of value, opportunity and community — and he’s happy with his decision.
“UMass Lowell is a great school,” he says. “We’re definitely on the up and up.”
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics program provides training in economic theories and their applications, preparing students to use economic tools to evaluate, understand, and address economic and societal problems.
Gain the analytical and problem-solving skills that employers seek with UMass Lowell's business administration major.
“Take every opportunity that’s thrown at you. Even if you’re unsure, give it a shot. That mindset has opened so many doors for me.”