Marvin Jaquez

Q: What are you currently studying and what do you hope to do with your degree upon graduation?

Currently, I am working towards a Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA) in Corporate Finance and Economics at CUNY Queens College.

Q: Tell us about your current study abroad experience.

I attend Kobe University, a school that is actually regarded as one of the best schools in Japan. Locals are always impressed when I tell them this is the school I attend and will congratulate me for it. At Kobe, I am taking courses within their economics and business administration department with a blend of undergraduate classes and graduate level classes, so the credits and content can match with the senior level classes I have left back at home. All but one of my classes are in English, the other is a Japanese language course.

My current study abroad experience has been an eye-opening one as a student who stayed in his home city for college. 

I chose to study in Japan to experience what it is like to live independently and also in hopes of developing character, like being more independent and resilient. I have often heard that studying abroad provides the opportunity to mature quickly and that was something I wanted.

While studying abroad, I have had the opportunity to meet students from Europe, Germany, France, and students from other Asian countries such as China, South Korea, and Vietnam. I got to hear what their school experience and culture is like and how it differs from American culture. I was also fortunate enough to be able to travel to major cities within Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. I hope to visit other parts of Japan as well, to go snowboarding or skiing. 

Q: Have you participated in any internships during undergrad? What was your overall takeaway?

Over the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to do the Chase Leadership Development Program which is JPMorgan Chase’s key talent program for students and analysts, offering summer internships (CLDP Summer Analyst) for undergraduates, focusing on financial services exposure, real business impact, and diversity, leading to potential full-time roles with rotations, mentorship, and leadership training. It’s designed to build future leaders, providing hands-on project experience in areas like data, product, marketing, and strategy within Consumer & Community Banking. The program provides hands-on project experience in data, product, marketing, and strategy, aiming to build future leaders through potential full-time roles.

My overall takeaway from the internship was the importance of perseverance, time management, resilience, and focus.

In the corporate world, whether you are a part of a team or working on a project by yourself, the work needs to get done. No one else is going to complete the work for you or give you reminders about when it should be done. You have to be able to manage your time between learning, working on multiple projects throughout the week and often with tight deadlines. Once the meeting with key stakeholders comes up and you have no idea about the work going on or you haven’t finished the work, it looks bad not only on your team leader, but also on yourself. 

I also learned it does not matter what school you went to. Coming from a college that isn’t a target school for most corporate companies and a high school not commonly known, none of that really matters. In the end, what’s most important is the work you do and communicating effectively. 

At the start of the internship, I felt anxious and uncertain about whether I was fully qualified for the role. However, by the end of the nine weeks, I left with a strong sense of confidence in my ability to take on new challenges and succeed in unfamiliar environments. I also had the opportunity to build meaningful connections with peers from different states and countries, which exposed me to diverse perspectives on career paths and the future, prompting me to reflect more intentionally on my own goals.

Throughout the experience, I learned that it is okay to begin a task without having all the answers. By consistently asking questions, staying curious, and committing to continuous learning and self-improvement, I gained a deeper understanding of my projects and responsibilities. I finished the internship with a stronger skill set and the confidence to apply what I learned to real-world situations across any field I choose to pursue.