Bauer, Worldwide
Marketing Student Gains Cultural Perspective Through Three Study Abroad Trips
Bauer College student Zack Patton took the road less traveled. Then he did it again. And again.
After starting at the University of Houston in 2019, Patton’s academic journey was not quite what you’d call traditional. In his six years as a student, Patton spent three full years studying abroad, with stints in Spain, France and Germany. First inspired by his father who studied abroad, Patton made plans to go to Spain with the goal of learning Spanish.
“I was always moved by people who could speak other languages besides English, and growing up in an English-speaking household, that was something that I always wanted to do,” Patton said. “I contacted the UH Learning Abroad office and worked with adviser Adrian Carruthers. Bauer adviser Colleen Davies helped make sure everything was aligned on the business school end.”
With all the logistics in place, Patton made his way to Europe where he studied Spanish language, history and culture.
“Being involved in global projects was the icing on the cake after my three years abroad and showed me what I could do for my career.”
Zack Patton, Marketing Senior
“My first three months in Spain were more difficult than expected because I was out of my comfort zone,” Patton said. “I thought I was OK at speaking Spanish, but when I got there, I realized very quickly that I could not carry a conversation with anybody.”
He added: “After those three months, I made it to the other side. I actually became more fluent in the language and started to see all my progress.”
While living in Spain, Patton’s host mom was a French teacher and started teaching him bits and pieces of the language. That’s when he got the idea to study abroad again.
While spending his semesters in Europe, Patton started posting short videos on social media platforms. Eventually, he built a following of more than 10,000 and brought the momentum home with him to Houston.
Back at Bauer, Patton continued posting on social media. His videos around college life began to gain traction with people recognizing him around campus.
“People taking time out of their day to mention how they liked my videos and share that it helped them get more out of their time at UH was awesome,” he said. “I was very grateful to have a platform to spread positivity.”
DECEMBER 2023: “MY FIRST SEMESTER CLASS AT AIX-MARSEILLE UNIVERSITY IN AIX-EN-PROVENCE. WE WERE ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS THERE TO LEARN FRENCH. NATIONALITIES INCLUDED CHINESE, JAPANESE, TURKISH, RUSSIAN, BRAZILIAN, VIETNAMESE, MEXICAN AND AMERICAN."
DECEMBER 2023: “MY FIRST SEMESTER CLASS AT AIX-MARSEILLE UNIVERSITY IN AIX-EN-PROVENCE. WE WERE ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS THERE TO LEARN FRENCH. NATIONALITIES INCLUDED CHINESE, JAPANESE, TURKISH, RUSSIAN, BRAZILIAN, VIETNAMESE, MEXICAN AND AMERICAN."
SEPTEMBER 2022: “MY FIRST DAY IN ALICANTE. I’M LOOKING OVER THE CITY FROM THE CASTILLO DE SANTA BARBARA, A FORTRESS BUILT BY THE MOORS OVER A THOUSAND YEARS AGO.”
SEPTEMBER 2022: “MY FIRST DAY IN ALICANTE. I’M LOOKING OVER THE CITY FROM THE CASTILLO DE SANTA BARBARA, A FORTRESS BUILT BY THE MOORS OVER A THOUSAND YEARS AGO.”
FEBRUARY 2023: “MY FIRST TRIP WITH MY SPANISH HOST FAMILY WAS TO SALAMANCA, SPAIN WHERE MY HOST MOTHER’S MOTHER LIVES. WE TOOK THIS PICTURE IN THE FAMOUS PLAZA MAYOR DE SALAMANCA. MY HOST SISTER, SARA, IS ON THE LEFT, MY HOST MOM, MAR, IN THE CENTER AND MYSELF ON THE RIGHT.”
FEBRUARY 2023: “MY FIRST TRIP WITH MY SPANISH HOST FAMILY WAS TO SALAMANCA, SPAIN WHERE MY HOST MOTHER’S MOTHER LIVES. WE TOOK THIS PICTURE IN THE FAMOUS PLAZA MAYOR DE SALAMANCA. MY HOST SISTER, SARA, IS ON THE LEFT, MY HOST MOM, MAR, IN THE CENTER AND MYSELF ON THE RIGHT.”
OCTOBER 2023: “MY SECOND YEAR ABROAD WAS IN FRANCE. I’M JOKINGLY POSING AS NAPOLEON DID IN HIS PORTRAITS WITH A HAND INSIDE HIS JACKET. TAKEN IN PARIS DURING OUR FALL BREAK.”
OCTOBER 2023: “MY SECOND YEAR ABROAD WAS IN FRANCE. I’M JOKINGLY POSING AS NAPOLEON DID IN HIS PORTRAITS WITH A HAND INSIDE HIS JACKET. TAKEN IN PARIS DURING OUR FALL BREAK.”
AUGUST 2024: “THE BEGINNING OF MY THIRD AND FINAL YEAR ABROAD IN LÜNEBURG GERMANY, WITH MY FELLOW AMERICAN STUDENTS IN FRONT OF THE 800+ YEAR OLD JOHANNESKIRCHE THAT TOWERS INTO THE SKY. I AM PICTURED ON THE FAR RIGHT WITH THE HAT AND GREEN SHIRT.”
AUGUST 2024: “THE BEGINNING OF MY THIRD AND FINAL YEAR ABROAD IN LÜNEBURG GERMANY, WITH MY FELLOW AMERICAN STUDENTS IN FRONT OF THE 800+ YEAR OLD JOHANNESKIRCHE THAT TOWERS INTO THE SKY. I AM PICTURED ON THE FAR RIGHT WITH THE HAT AND GREEN SHIRT.”
JANUARY 2024: “SELFIE TAKEN WITH MY MOM, WHO CAME TO VISIT ME, AND MY FRENCH HOST FAMILY. MY FRENCH HOST SISTER, ÉMILIE, IS GIVING THUMBS UP, MY FRENCH HOST MOM, CAROLINE, IS CENTERED TOGETHER WITH MY MOM.”
JANUARY 2024: “SELFIE TAKEN WITH MY MOM, WHO CAME TO VISIT ME, AND MY FRENCH HOST FAMILY. MY FRENCH HOST SISTER, ÉMILIE, IS GIVING THUMBS UP, MY FRENCH HOST MOM, CAROLINE, IS CENTERED TOGETHER WITH MY MOM.”
MAY 2025: “A CARD I WAS GIVEN ON MY LAST NIGHT IN GERMANY, ENDING THE JOURNEY OF THREE YEARS ABROAD. THE CULMINATION OF ALL THE STUDYING AND HARD WORK IS BEST SHOWN IN THE RELATIONSHIPS I WAS ABLE TO CREATE WITH MY INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS AS SHOWN HERE."
MAY 2025: “A CARD I WAS GIVEN ON MY LAST NIGHT IN GERMANY, ENDING THE JOURNEY OF THREE YEARS ABROAD. THE CULMINATION OF ALL THE STUDYING AND HARD WORK IS BEST SHOWN IN THE RELATIONSHIPS I WAS ABLE TO CREATE WITH MY INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS AS SHOWN HERE."
In addition to making content, Patton picked up where he left off in the Program for Excellence in Selling (PES), a program that allows students to earn their sales minor through experiential learning. Before his first study abroad, he completed the two required semesters of PES curriculum. Patton said the program built the confidence that he needed to go to Europe, and he knew he was interested in taking the optional Key Accounts course once he returned to reconnect with the sales community.
“When I graduated from PES, before I went to Spain, I already had an idea that I wanted to start my career off in sales or in a people-facing position,” he said. “During my time abroad, I was thinking about how I could use these experiences in a career and realized that not many Americans can speak multiple languages, nor are they willing to travel as often as I am. If I could combine my sales experience and cross-cultural understanding, I could turn it into a great career.”
Patton got a taste of what a multilingual career could be like while interning with Cadillac.
“Cadillac is expanding in Europe, and I was able to connect with the European team to have meetings in French, Spanish and German while I was in Detroit,” he said. “Being involved in global projects was the icing on the cake after my three years abroad and showed me what I could do for my career.”
While currently based in the United States, Patton’s caught the travel bug and is looking for professional opportunities overseas.
Patton said studying abroad changed the trajectory of his life, and he encourages other Bauer students with hesitations to try out a learning away experience.
“If you’ve had even the slightest thought of studying abroad in your head but felt stuck because of personal or financial friction, don’t let that stop you,” he said. “Push past it and give yourself a chance.”
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