The Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity is tight-knit group of brothers with a high standard of excellence. Charlie Talcott ’18 was able to uphold this standard even while studying abroad in Germany.
Charlie’s dream of studying in Germany stemmed from his high school German courses. When he arrived at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, his dreams became a reality. With a double major in German Literature & Culture and Business, Charlie was looking for a way to combine these two interests. His goal was to secure a summer internship in Germany.
“After searching around for a summer opportunity, it became clear that the only way I could get an internship would be if my language skills improved,” Charlie said.
He decided that the University of Mannheim was the right fit for his ambitions. After spending a semester improving his language skills, Charlie was able to obtain a summer position at Deutsche Bank in their Sports Management Division.
“This experience was so great because of the people I worked with, the friends I made, and the time I spent alone in a city in which I knew very few people,” he said.
While abroad, Charlie also visited many other big cities in Germany as well as France, Italy, England, and Spain. He is thankful for the opportunity to broaden his horizons. Studying abroad allowed Charlie to learn more than just what is taught in a UNC classroom. He learned a lot about the world and himself.
“There’s no way to find out that you want to live, study, or work abroad until you go there,” he said. “Never seeing whether or not that could be something you’re interested in could cause you to miss out on a lot in life.”
Studying abroad has opened Charlie’s eyes to the possibilities the world has to offer and has fueled his curiosity. After studying abroad with programs in London and Mannheim, he now has goals of studying in Shanghai and Beijing.
“Someday, I may even want to work outside of the United States,” he said. “I think that could be an incredible experience.”
Although Charlie has spent so much time studying abroad, he still has formed a tight bond with his brothers in DKE. This was a large contributing factor to Charlie’s decision to join DKE.
“DKE is a collection of great guys who work hard, have fun, and contribute to the UNC community in an unparalleled capacity,” he said.
The Beta Chapter of DKE also has a very consistent balance between social events and academics. It is a fraternity that encourages meaningful connections while still maintaining academic excellence.
“Not only is this reflected in our very high fraternity GPA, but also in the great success DKEs have in the working world immediately after and well beyond college,” he said.
Charlie’s DKE brothers have been nothing but supportive with his endeavors of traveling and studying abroad. He knows that the friendships he has made within the fraternity are ones that will last a lifetime.
“DKE has been a blessing in my life,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine a better group of brothers.”
