Matt Birgy | Admissions Advisor

I’m just a kid from the sticks who doesn’t take himself too seriously but expects a lot out of himself. Infinitely curious, I’m in my element when I’m out of my element. I’m not trying to save the world. I’d just like to see as much as possible and leave a kind impression on the people and environments I encounter along the way.  

Around ITA, I’m known for my undefeated record in limbo contests and stirring the pot.

Northern Michigan. Top o’ the Mitten to ya’. 

English Creative Writing Emphasis & German Studies. In my foreign language classes, I discovered a knack for accents/languages. My Professor suggested I study abroad. They enticed me with pictures of castles and steins of beer, then the German department actually offered me a scholarship! I decided to take the loot and give it a whirl.

Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Austria, Hungary, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, India, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Belize, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama and of course… Canada!

I have lived in Germany, South Korea, and Colombia.

There’s something about driving a motorcycle in SE Asia that gets me every time.

Well of course I’m going to say sushi! But I also like just about anything that comes out of a Tandoori too.

I seriously think every decent hearted individual should have the experience of living in a foreign country and for at least 6 months in their lives. The process itself, of making oneself a guest in a different culture, is an incredible opportunity for humility and self-growth.  It renews an urgency to get-out-there-and-live, so to speak. I get to tell people, every day, that’s it’s possible to have that experience for themselves.   So yep, I’m on the side of having more “better” people in the world.