An interview with Patrick Hauck

Patrick Hauck had already shown his enthusiasm for immersion in a foreign culture before his studies. He lived and worked in Boston, USA for a year at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, which prepared him both professionally and personally for his studies. It has always been important for Patrick to gain as much experience abroad as possible during his education, so he decided to write both his BSc and his Master's theses abroad. In between, he applied for one of the FHNW's International Student Projects: ExploreASEAN gave him the opportunity to get to know something of South East Asia and to immerse himself in very different cultures.

Patrick talks enthusiastically about his experience and wants to encourage others to take this step. Your studies are an ideal time to get to know new cultures, to live outside your comfort zone and to build your network. "Such experiences and memories remain with you for life" adds Patrick.

Patrick Hauck is currently working on his MSc thesis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The fact that he "made it" to MIT is one of the highlights when he looks back on his time abroad. In contrast to his stay at University College London, where a lecturer facilitated his BSc project, at MIT Patrick had to organize everything himself, from the application to the organization of the project and thesis. But the motivation remains: "It was a huge task of which I’m very proud".

Patrick Hauck’s Study Destinations

It is important to take time off says Patrick. Whether it's goosebumps at the Grand Canyon, in New York or Singapore, you need balance in your university life: "Sometimes you have to take a break to stay motivated and creative”.

He gives students the following advice: "Be courageous, tenacious and put yourself in challenging situations. Get out of your comfort zone but enjoy every moment of your stay. Never lose sight of your dreams and goals and accept that there’ll be downs as well as ups. "I give up" and "That's not possible" shouldn’t be part of your vocabulary. These experiences remain a big part of your life and you can always look back on them with pride.”