"Only with the encouragement and mentoring of a few, very special instructors," says Alice Brown, who hails from Panama City, "was I able to discover my strengths. Without their help, I might never have considered learning other languages and pursuing a career outside the States."

Through Florida State's International Programs, Alice was able to spend the past summer in Tianjin, China, located near the capital of Beijing. Her interests lean toward economies in transition, so this country where great change is taking place was the place to go. She says, "China is still a mystery to so many people; the language is difficult, and the culture is entirely different than ours. With firsthand experience, I can now begin to understand what many Americans have little concept of."

Alice, who carries a double major—Multinational Business and Economics—with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, has appeared on the President's List each and every semester. She has been inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, the professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Now that she has returned from China, she will begin to write her Honors in the Major Thesis, focusing on intellectual property rights in China. And she will continue with her language studies until she has "gained a solid understanding of the spoken language."

What's her advice for her fellow students? "Begin language studies early, and don't pick the easiest one. Being able to communicate in another language enables you to relate to more people and to better understand their culture. It certainly makes you more marketable."

After graduation, Alice plans to work overseas for a few years, and then apply to an MBA program for further study.