Texas Showcase - Anthony Larmon

Interviewed by Tara Gillespie, Kristina Chung and Melissa Flath

Did you always know you wanted to study public relations?

I was initially a linguistics major but I decided to switch to PR after my sophomore year. I have always been interested in communication, so I decided that being a PR major would give me the skills to thrive in various business environments.

How has your knowledge of different languages helped you during your PR studies?

I’ve always known the business world was becoming more global so I wanted to be sure I could compete in an international job market. This spring I will be interning at Edelman PR in Hamburg, Germany, an opportunity that would not have been available without strong writing and language skills. I speak four languages and am currently dabbling in some others.

How did you learn these four languages?

I grew up in an English-speaking household, but my grandmother spoke German to me when I was young and I also took German in high school. Furthermore, my dad was a Spanish major so I picked up an interest in Spanish through him and refined my skills through books and various jobs I had as a teenager. I took French for 2 years here at The University of Texas and loved the program.

Have you studied abroad or traveled on your own?

All the traveling I’ve done has been on my own. I feel I can gain deeper cultural insights through the flexibility that comes with traveling independently. During the first part of Summer 2011, I backpacked through 11 countries in Europe. I hope to make a habit of traveling and eventually join the century club by visiting 100 or more countries. I’m currently at 25.