Brandon Bixler's Spotlight
Brandon Bixler
About Brandon
Brandon Bixler is a fourth-year student at Penn State University Park majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education and minoring in International Agriculture. Brandon is also pursuing the Presidential Leadership Academy Certificate. Over summer 2023, Brandon studied abroad in Nyeri, Kenya through our CED 499: Issues in Economic, Community and Development in Kenya program.
Continue reading to learn more about how Brandon chose a program, lessons Brandon took from an experience abroad, and the highlights of his time abroad in Kenya in Brandon's own words!
Brandon standing with a cow outside the Children and Youth Empowerment Center in Nyeri, Kenya
A hyrax watching Brandon eat his lunch in Nyeri, Kenya
Photo Brandon captured of a potato he planted for his program's conservation agriculture project
Photo Brandon captured of a cabbage he planted for his program's conservation agriculture project
Brandon's Education Abroad Experience
"I chose my education abroad program because it allowed me to integrate my two primary interests of education and agriculture by bringing them together in an incredibly meaningful way. I gained hands-on experience by working with the staff members on the agricultural project as we created beds and planted maize, beans, cabbages, and potatoes to demonstrate an effective crop rotation plan. In addition, I was able to spend time working with youth at the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre, including designing educational activities, assisting them with homework, etc.
My experience in Kenya allowed me to see first-hand the positive impact built through the long-term relationship between Penn State and the Centre in Kenya. I learned so much from the faculty members who led the trip and from the staff who led our projects at the Centre, which gave me clarity on how I could make a global impact using my education and living out my purpose.
I learned a great deal about "doing the next right thing" even when the path forward isn't entirely clear. The staff leading the Centre's efforts work in an incredibly challenging context, dealing with challenges ranging from political instability to sky-high inflation. It would be very easy for them to give up, but the staff continues to show up on a daily basis to help care for the children's needs even when everything is not perfect. As a perfectionist, I was inspired by their example!"
I would encourage students to seek out opportunities that stretch them and allow them to grow their global competence by experiencing their area of study in an international context! There are many aspects of study abroad experiences that will likely challenge or stretch you, but these experiences allow us to learn even when it isn't always necessarily easy or fun."