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In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Rachelle Laurel, a dual major in Japanese and Marketing whose Honors journey has taken her far beyond the classroom, and far beyond Tennessee. Rachelle shares how a childhood love of anime grew into a passion for language, culture, and international storytelling, eventually leading her to spend a full academic year studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan.
She reflects on the transformative moments that shaped her experience: navigating a new country alone, building unexpected friendships, traveling to iconic sites like Mount Fuji and Okinawa, and discovering the everyday cultural differences that surprised her most. She also discusses how her time abroad strengthened her interest in global marketing and opened the door to hands‑on work with international partners.
The conversation expands beyond Japan as Rachelle talks about her time in Washington, D.C.—first through the Washington Center and later as Tennessee’s delegate in the National Cherry Blossom Program. From interning in a multicultural environment to reading Tennessee children’s books to a kindergarten class, her story highlights how opportunities cultivate confidence, curiosity, and global citizenship.
This episode is a celebration of stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing cultural exchange, and letting curiosity lead you to unexpected places.
(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)
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