Instead of settling quietly and predictably into a Thoreau-like life of quiet desperation in the corporate world, Lakewood resident, Eric Hickey, is indulging a more exotic post-grad path.

A recent graduate of New York University, Hickey is taking his knowledge, christened by a newly minted degree in economics, Spanish, and linguistics, to the world's eighth largest economy - Spain.

But instead of pursing the high-anxiety life of global markets, Hickey will explore a more tranquil, though important mission: teaching English to Spanish elementary school students.

Hickey's mother, Karen Sanzo, is excited about his Spanish adventure.

"He'll get a chance to experience other languages, and to study French, and be multicultural," said Sanzo, who has a daughter at Boston University and another daughter at Bishop Lynch.

Hickey's teaching opportunity was spurred by an initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Information to increase the competitiveness of its high school and college students. He is part of the department's vision to recruit American and Canadian graduates to Spain, to teach English.