What do you do when you’re young, want to see the world, and gain new professional skills all at the same time? Look no further than Nam Nguyen as an example!

Nam earned a bachelor’s degree in his home country of Vietnam, but he soon wondered what new professional learning opportunities were out there for him. With a curiosity about international study abroad, Nam came to the U.S. on a J-1 Visa. It was through the J-1 program that a fellow international program member and friend of Nam’s recommended that he look into Computer Systems Institute (CSI).

“CSI gave me the chance to work for a few different companies, to gain friends from around the world, and to have more time to explore Boston and New York.”

CSI Boston provided everything Nam was looking for in a continuing education program while abroad: the chance to gain new knowledge in exciting courses and gain hands-on professional experience through Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) opportunities—and all at an affordable price.

After switching from a J-1 Visa to an F-1 Visa for study purposes, Nam joined CSI to pursue the Hospitality Leadership Concentration through the Business Career Program. From day one, however, he was excited to jump right into exploring additional aspects of the business, including small business management, sales and marketing, administration, accounting, and more. Reading books about other industries has been a highlight of Nam’s coursework.

Additionally, Nam’s externship experiences through OPT/CPT allowed him to pursue offsite training during class hours to learn hands-on about the fields he studied.

“I love it so much. It brings me a lot of opportunities and professional connections,” shared Nam about his practical training.

Beyond learning opportunities, another one of Nam’s favorite things about CSI is being able to meet people from all around the world through both his classmates and instructors.

“We are all one big international student family. We sometimes share our stories, like where we are from and what our culture is like. I learned many great things about them, and I feel like I am traveling the world without actually going anywhere.”

Above all, CSI has given Nam a chance to grow both professionally and personally while abroad. Reflecting on his journey from before CSI to today, Nam stated,

“Time after time, I feel like I have grown out of whom I used to be in a better way—more mature and grown up. Thanks to CSI, I have a chance to do those things.”

What’s next on the horizon for Nam? Armed with all the knowledge and experience he has gained through his time at CSI, Nam plans to continue figuring out what path fits him the best. His professional training and hands-on experience now open wide many doors to pursue a career in the U.S., back home in Vietnam, or anywhere else in the world he would like to explore next!

To anyone interested in attending CSI, Nam has this advice:

“I am really happy that I found CSI, and if you don’t know what you like, just like me before, CSI will definitely help.”

If you’re looking for a chance to discover yourself, meet people from all over the world, and gain valuable professional skills along the way like Nam, look no further! Contact the CSI admissions team by calling 1-847-697-5030 or visiting https://www.csinow.edu/admissions/ to learn more about our opportunities for international students.