A desire to travel started senior year of high school for Alex Phillips, who was involved in the People to People program. While in the program she had the opportunity to travel outside of the United States for the first time and spent three weeks in Europe.

“After that, I’ve had the travel bug,” Phillips said, who is now in her senior year at Park University.

This blonde-haired blue-eyed travel-loving girl has found a home at Park University. In her time of traveling she has been to 12 countries including Ireland, England, Wales, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Cayman Islands, Honduras, Argentina, Uruguay, Guatemala and now Italy can be added to the list.

“I love to travel, it’s my favorite thing,” Phillips said. “I’m passionate about it. The joy and happiness it gives me, nothing else compares.”

Park University made the majority of Phillips’ travel experiences possible. She first went to school at William Jewel College and then Missouri State University but their study abroad programs weren’t comparable to Park University’s.

“Park has way more opportunities each semester inside and outside the United States,” Phillips said. “Since Park offers these opportunities, if I’m capable and able to do it, why not?”

Park offers alternative fall and spring breaks, which are study abroad programs Phillips regularly takes part in. Recently, Phillips took the alternative fall break to Italy.

Silvia Byer, the program coordinator for modern languages, was the professor in charge of the trip to Italy and taught the class: Survey of European Literature. Phillips took this class during her trip abroad. The class briefly covers European writers such as Homer and Dante. Phillips visited Florence, the birth place of Dante and the city of inspiration for many poets.

Growing up, Phillips said she wanted to be a cardiologist until she realized she wasn’t good at math or science. Phillips became interested in the humanities and wanted to experience other cultures, so she subscribed to National Geographic.

“I got National Geographic and would see pictures of other places and knew I had to go to these places and experience the people,” said Phillips.

From this she decided to major in international relations, but didn’t want a government job, so she changed her major to global studies.

“I wanted to be that person that went into the villages,” Phillips added.

Phillips said Missouri State didn’t provide guidance for her major in global studies, so she came to Park University and took her father’s suggestion to major in public relations. Phillips is also a staff reporter for The Stylus.

“It was very straightforward and I liked that,” she said.

The diversity of Park University’s campus contributed to the home Phillips has found here.

“Park has been my favorite place,” said Phillips. “I do love Park and hearing the different languages and the different people. I love, love, love that.”

Out of 12 countries, Argentina is the country Phillips stayed in the longest. She stayed there for five months and, she said, it helped her experience life in another culture.

“(It was the) best decision I’ve ever made,” Phillips said. “Just to be able to live in a society different from your own is a really eye-opening experience.”

“It changed how I see things back in the States,” she added.

Phillips said by staying in Argentina for five months, she was able to see how another country viewed the United States.

“United States and Argentina have a back and forth relationship,” Phillips said. “By being there you see the different ways U.S. took advantage of smaller countries. In guerilla warfare U.S. spent millions of dollars in their favor to aid one country and would flip sides at times when it benefits the U.S.”

By having cross-cultural sensitivity Phillips said she is able to view her own culture in the context of another’s.

Phillips said her travels and studies abroad have altered the ideals and perceptions she’s obtained as a United States citizen.

Even though she has been to many countries, Phillips said she is eager to travel to new lands and gather new experiences as she widens her cultural sensitivity.

The Middle East is at the top of Phillips’ travel list. Egypt or Pakistan is her country of choice.

“The culture is beautiful, but not an ideal place to go,” Phillips said of traveling to the Middle East.