Most Wake students pass through the abroad office at some point or another. But have we taken full advantage of the stories, advice and info our study abroad advisers are itching to tell us? Sadly, probably not. Here’s your chance! Meet the newly-Mrs. Jessica (Jessie) Francis – pro study abroad adviser, your go-to travel guru and fashion enthusiast. What’s not to love?
Chatting Jessie is a must when it comes to snagging invaluable insight into international travel and truly endless study abroad options. Sitting down with HC, Jessie gladly spills tons of her fascinating travel and love stories, and (of course) does what she does best – encourages taking a chance at both. It’s for our own good.
“God has a plan for everyone,” Jessie muses as we get settled on the couches in Campus Grounds. As female students with the world at our fingertips, Jessie encourages each of us to grasp it, hold on tight, and let it lead us on an adventure . . . be it to fast-paced London or adventure-capital New Zealand.
Last year Jessie co-led a Volunteer Service Corps (VSC) trip to Santarem, Brazil with Richard Mayer (’10). Of all her international travel, she admits that leading a group of nine college students to a totally different culture seemed daunting, to say the least. But she pulled it off with flying colors.
“It was my first time travelling internationally where I was responsible for other peoples’ children, and that internal struggle of trying to give the students independence while ensuring their safety – I prayed the entire taxi ride [from the airport] to just get us there safely,” says Jessie. “Now that I’ve done it once, I know I have the ability to do these things. I grew a lot as a person on that trip and enjoyed getting to know all of the students and continuing these relationships even now a year later.”
Always positive in sticky situations, Jessie maintains a cool head and even temper when the inevitable travel mishap gets in the way. When you travel you need a “measure of adaptability,” she says.
 “Walking down Hyde Park [in London] when it snows in heels just doesn’t work,” she laughs. “I had bad shoes in England, so I went shopping. Very few situations when you travel are really that horrible.”
But sometimes we just stare, chin dropped and mouth gaping, at the haphazard horror stories like what happened to Jessie in Spain.
“I got mugged in Barcelona, but that wasn’t horrible – it wasn’t pleasant either though,” Jessie shrugs nonchalantly. Not horrible? Should I add “badass” to her list of personal qualities? Sounds like it. Perhaps she smacked her perpetrator over the head with her spring collection Coach bag or took out his knee with one powerful blow from her three-inch red heels.
In light of this rather harrowing experience, you’d think that Jessie would be skittish about experiencing starkly foreign cultures and sticky encounters. Not so much. Her biggest advice to would-be female abroaders?
“Trust yourself and take the risk. Girls don’t have enough confidence that they can do it. You’ll be so much happier in the long run.”
Ladies, do you have that fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) syndrome that Wake so often inflicts upon its student body? Or maybe you’re afraid of flying. Or perhaps just living in a random place on the other side of the world is totally intimidating. Fear not. Break free of the “Wake Bubble” for a summer or semester for the most fun you will ever have. Take that leap of faith, and with a few friends (or even by yourself), be comforted leaving your launch across the big pond in the hands of Wake’s own Mrs. Francis (though she’ll become “Jessie” real fast).
Despite Jessie’s fab fashion and all-around sound travel advice, she stands by her one essential item that goes with her on all trips. That’s right – the super-trendy passport necklace (or what I like to call the Fanny Pack Flop). Jessie just can’t seem to part with this creative yet socially destructive accessory. I suppose her hubby, James, thinks it’s sexy?
Even though she’s keen on telling me all about her love story with James – all the way from the first blind date to the recent wedding bells – Jessie still refuses to accept my friend request on Facebook until I graduate. Professional and hip? That’s my kind of faculty BFF.
*Photo credit to our wonderful HC photographer, freshman Karleigh Ash.