William A. Potter
BA in German + Minor in Biology 1984
Academic Year 1982-83 in Vienna
A year abroad offered the allure of adventure, continuing education, complete language immersion (when you dream in German, you begin to understand), exposure to culture (music, theater, history), and in retrospect a global understanding of our place in this world. Close geographic proximity allowed me to visit 14 countries.
Not a day that passes without some influence from my year in Vienna. As a leader, writer, and creator, I use lessons in verbal and written communication learned abroad. As a business, we work with clients worldwide and employee individuals who speak 10 languages.
Ironically, it was not language proficiency that led me to Vienna. I was introverted with minor aphasia and, although the world would verbally communicate at a breakneck pace, I was often the quiet one in the room. The study and use of languages was therapeutic to a point where conversing was more fluid. I continued language studies, with moderate to expert proficiency in English, German, Polish, and Spanish. Since studying abroad, I have spoken to groups as large as 500, was a guest on television and radio, featured newspapers and magazines, and currently reach millions of people a year through social media.
The study of language at IiVP is not simply a classroom located in Vienna, but a life-changing experience which brought me steadfast friends in the US and abroad with unexpected results (like a godson). The Illinois in Vienna Program is an outstanding opportunity to create memories and skills you will carry with you for a lifetime.