Speaking Two Languages, Coding in Many

“Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made” 
--  Layne Woodruff, Computer Science

When Layne first transferred to BGSU, he never expected his college experience would take him nearly 5,000 miles away to Salzburg, Austria. But the opportunity to study abroad for a year gave him a chance to step out of his comfort zone while also preparing for a career in technology.

In Austria, classes looked very different from what he was used to at BGSU. Students were expected to work through entire textbooks on their own and then sit for exams that determined most of their grade. It was challenging, but Layne says the independence helped him grow. “In computer science, you often have to figure things out on your own,” he explains. “Debugging a program isn’t that different from trying to understand a system in a new culture. You have to be resourceful and persistent.”

Layne also pushed himself to learn German while he was abroad. Most people in Salzburg spoke English, but he made a point of practicing with classmates, neighbors, and shopkeepers. By the end of the year, he had added a German minor and was comfortable carrying conversations. For him, the process felt a lot like learning a new programming language—something that takes patience and practice. “Now I’m fluent in German, and that opens doors I hadn’t thought about before, especially in an industry as global as tech.”

Just as important were the connections he made. About a third of his classmates were international students, many of them in engineering and technology fields. Layne says he still keeps in touch with several and hopes those friendships may lead to professional opportunities down the road. “The tech world is so connected internationally,” he says. “It’s not hard to imagine running into these people again in my career.”

Since returning to BGSU, Layne has leaned on resources like the Kuhlin Hub for Career Design and Connections to turn his experiences into career readiness. He’s updated his resume, practiced interviews, and thought more carefully about how his time abroad makes him stand out to employers.

Looking back, Layne sees the experience as much more than a year of study. It was a chance to build confidence, adaptability, and perspective—qualities he knows will matter just as much as technical skills when he starts his career. “Studying abroad changed how I see the world,” he says. “And it also changed how I see myself in computer science.”