Arron Armstrong took part in the Study USA programme in 1997-98, studying at the University of Indianapolis, Indiana. At the time he was a Politics and History student at Queen’s University Belfast. He now works as a freelance journalist at LBC and TRT World.
"I always wanted to study abroad, but coming from a single-parent family, I never thought it would happen. So, the programme was a bit of a game-changer for me. I remember getting to the airport, meeting the three other students who were going with me to Indianapolis and being slightly apprehensive but also incredibly excited about what lay ahead. We laughed so much on that journey – and I knew I was going to be fine.
“My lasting memories are all about the people I met and the places I travelled to. The four of us became good friends and we shared some incredible experiences, like road trips to Chicago, and being homeless on New Years Eve in New York. I spent Christmas in Boston, Spring Break in Toronto with my Canadian friend, and another road trip in the West taking in LA, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. However, being taken around Indiana with local students to their hometowns, meeting their friends and family and seeing places I’d never otherwise have heard of, was also really special. It began a love affair with travelling which remains to this day.
“I was fortunate that so many opportunities were available during that year - many of which happened by chance. I gave a speech our international student coffee morning when it was our turn to tell everyone about Ireland. I didn’t take it too seriously, made a few jokes about potatoes and just tried to get a few cheap laughs, but it seemed to connect with people. Afterwards, a tutor approached me about representing the university at a public speaking competition. Typically, I left it to the last minute and sat up for most of the night before trying to get something on paper. I felt a bit out of my depth, but it went well, and gave me a big confidence boost. Little did I know, moments like that would have a significant impact on my career.
“I now work as news presenter at LBC and TRT World, having spent most of my career at the BBC and Sky. I managed to combine my love of travelling with work and have experiences things I could only have dreamed of when I first went to the US, but that year, without doubt, was the catalyst. Now I get to cover global news and politics with a big focus on the United States, which is what I was really interested in at university.
“Again, it’s not just about the work, it’s about the people I’ve met. The relationships I made along the way, whether that was classmates, mentors or chance encounters - they’ve all had a lasting impact on me. And now, I try to give something back by mentoring younger people in the media industry I was fortunate enough to be able to turn my passion into a career, and I’d encourage others to do the same. Be confident in your ability, put yourself out there, and take advantage of your opportunities – there’s a world of them out there."