With graduation fast approaching and many seniors soon to be alumni, many of us are wondering what life is like after Iona. Kyle Byrne, who graduated in the class of 2015, has spent the last year and a half living and working in Argentina. Byrne graduated with a BA in Mass Communications with a minor in Speech Communications Studies. Byrne’s education and time at Iona as well as his experience in Argentina has set him up nicely on his career path.

“I always envisioned myself getting a job related to TV production when I graduated,” Byrne said. However, what he saw himself doing after graduation changed before he finished at Iona. “Shortly before graduation I was presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to work in Argentina. It was an offer I could not refuse.”

Byrne wanted to take a chance doing something he knew he probably would not get the opportunity to do again. “When I graduated from Iona most of my friends were applying for jobs or grad school,” Byrne said. “But I thought outside the box. I had the chance to move to a foreign country without knowing the people, the language or the culture. I took this challenge because I thought it would be an incredible opportunity for me to grow as a person.”

Indeed, when most undergraduates graduate, they look to work in the field of their major or go onto graduate school right away. Going to Argentina was a unique opportunity but also a challenge.

“I had to survive in a foreign country on my own,” Byrne said. “It ended up being the best decision I ever made. What was originally supposed to be a one-year trip, ended up being two because I loved it so much.”

The experience and extended residence had to do with the people Byrne met.

“I had the best colleagues and the most amazing students. They all gave me a warm welcome to their school. Argentina became my home and leaving was the most difficult thing I had to do.”

While it can be difficult to leave behind everything you know, living in a foreign country can be a transformative experience.

For Byrne, going to Argentina was not just to experience a new culture, it was to take a job that related to his major and interests. He was able to develop a media program and teach English at Colegio Lincoln, a private school in La Plata, Argentina.

“I taught a workshop in TV production where my students were responsible for producing a monthly newscast in English,” Byrne said. “I taught them news reporting and writing, production methods, on-camera presence skills, public speaking and editing.”

Byrne was able to apply what he had learned at Iona to the “real world” and teach his students with knowledge he had gained.

Being a recent college graduate, Byrne’s time in Argentina might aid his career. The experience will set him apart from his other peers in the industry.

“Employers want people who take risks, who think outside the box and who can adapt in unfamiliar situations,” Byrne said. “I arrived home in the beginning of April and two weeks later I got a job offer.” His experience in Argentina made him an appealing candidate and helped to give him an edge over other candidates.

Byrne credits his opportunity in Argentina and his early career success to Iona College. He believes that, “the past six years of my life have been the best between the four at Iona and the two in Argentina. I matured immensely as an undergraduate because I took advantage of the leadership opportunities that Iona offered.”

Byrne was involved on campus in a variety of clubs and organizations. He was the president of ICTV, a Campus Minister, director of the Kairos 9 Retreat and a Founding Father of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Byrne also “participated in 4 Iona-in-Mission trips, and was a member of the Tara Knights Society.”

Iona has had a tremendous impact on Byrne in regards to what he learned in the classroom; but perhaps, more importantly, the leadership skills and the ability to work with others that he learned through involvement on campus has had a bigger impact. He credits Iona for much of his success. “I’m grateful for Iona because I have transformed emotionally, spiritually and physically. Iona played a major part in my success and I plan to always give back to the college as a token of my appreciation.”

Excelling at Iona as a student, living and working in Argentina and above all being a recent graduate, Byrne is certainly someone to look to for advice for recent graduates. The advice he offers for graduating students is impacted by his experience in Argentina.

Byrne has one word of advice: “Travel!” He advises students to “see the world. Open your mind, take risks and learn. After immersing yourself in another culture you will look at the world through a different lens and see life differently. Society puts so much pressure on us to start our careers right after graduation. But at age 22 or23 we are so young. Don’t feel rushed to jump right into your career if you have the opportunity to travel and live abroad. You won’t regret it I promise!”

If you are not looking to start your career immediately after graduation or if you are interested in traveling after graduation, take Byrne’s advice. Traveling abroad could lead to a job opportunity to enhance your professional skills and make you a more marketable candidate when you come back home to start your career as it did for Byrne.