Elon alumni showed students it is possible to live internationally after graduation.

Students got a chance to have a question and answer session with young alumni who have lived abroad at this year’s Destination International event.

The Destination series of presentations is designed to give students the opportunity to talk with recent alumni about the different cities in which they live or work. Destination International is the most recent addition and was created last spring because of the increasing amount of students interested in living abroad after graduation.

This year’s talk, which was held in KOBC’s La Rose Digital Theater March 27, featured three recent graduates via Skype, all of who had a wide variety of international experience.

Hilary Corna, an international business major who was a member of the 2007 graduating class, spent three years living in Asia after she purchased a one-way ticket to Singapore with no plan, job or place to live. She got a job as a senior executive officer and Kaizen Leader for Toyota after three months of searching. She is currently in the United States promoting her book “One White Face,” which is about her life working abroad.

“You learn so much about yourself and the world around you when you live abroad,” said Corna. “I learned so much that I wrote a book about it.”

Corna discussed one main important lesson she learned working overseas: that friendships are much different when living internationally.

“People move in and out of your life so quickly,” said Corna. “I learned how much I value friendship.”

The presentations are developed by the Initiative of Young Alumni Council, a group of alumni who serve as an advisory and help assist with students’ transition out of Elon. Kiley Moorefield, a 2007 graduate and the Advisor to Young Alumni, believes the talks are a great chance for students to connect with alumni.

“The discussions allow students to ask questions about a new city they may be moving to,” said Moorefield. “It’s a great networking opportunity.”

Kaela Conroy, a 2010 graduate with a degree in international studies, is currently working as an English teacher in Ronda, Spain. She decided she wanted to work abroad after enjoying her semester abroad in Seville, Spain.

“If you already have an open mind to working abroad, then that’s all you need,” she said.

Conroy found the teaching job in Spain before she moved there, which made her transition easier, she said.

“I didn’t know anyone — it was strange, but I was happy,” said Conroy. “Getting to know people is most important to the transition, and the most exciting.”

Tonya Albert, a 2008 graduate with a leisure and sports management degree, spent a year in Manchester, England in an Art Gallery and Museum Studies Masters Program. She valued the opportunity to live with people from all over the world.

“I learned more from the international people I lived with than in my program,” she said.

All three of these graduates happily discussed their lives abroad and gave the students advice on how to make the most of these opportunities.

“The best thing you can do is to assimilate to the local culture,” Albert said.

The Destination discussion events are held every spring, and feature locations such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and various international locations.

“After attending, students are usually saying ‘I can do this,’” Moorefield said.