Hello! My name is Isabella Purcell. I am a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh, and I am currently double majoring in marketing and human resources with a certificate in international business. I am from Chester County, Pennsylvania which is about half an hour away from Philadelphia. Although I have been enjoying my summer break at home so far, I am also excited to return to campus in the fall to start my first year as a Resident Assistant in Bruce Hall for the Pitt Business Living Learning Community. Aside from this, I am also eager to resume some of my favorite pastimes at Pitt such as walking around Schenley Park, grabbing bubble tea with friends, and playing volleyball on the lawn behind the Cathedral of Learning. Sometimes you can also find me in the music building on 5th Avenue practicing the piano. I took lessons for about ten years and although I stopped taking classes, I love to reserve a practice room from time to time to learn new music.
This summer I will be working for a company based in Madrid named La Casita de Inglés. This company was founded in 2002 by Lenny Garza and her daughter, Marina Molares. Their first center was established in Pozuelo and since then they have acquired eight more locations in Madrid and one in Barcelona. Each center teaches children, from ages 1 to 12, the English language through short weekly workshop sessions. Their organization aims to create a warm and nurturing environment where young students can naturally develop bilingual communication skills and are encouraged to have fun and explore. Throughout this internship, I will be assisting the human resources department with recruitment functions such as screening candidates for open teaching positions and supporting the training process for staff members.
I chose to participate in the International Internship Program in Madrid because I am eager to pursue a career in an international setting. Acquiring work experience in a foreign country, albeit virtually, will be the first step in achieving this goal, and I am eager to apply the concepts I have learned so far to a hands-on experience.
When I was first admitted to the University of Pittsburgh, I was looking forward to pursuing an undergraduate degree in marketing to practice graphic design and learn more about the psychology and economics behind consumer behavior. Soon after taking my first introductory course to human resources, BUSORG 1020 Organizational Behaviors, I realized that I had found another career path I could see myself pursuing and decided to add human resources as a second major. I was fascinated by how studies in psychology could also be used to create a more healthy and successful work environment for employees. As I prepare for my junior year, I aim to take advantage of this internship opportunity in order to better understand whether I would prefer a future career in human resources, marketing, or one that combines both interests. Next semester, I will be taking courses related to managerial ethics and recruitment strategies which correlate well with the learning objectives of this HR internship. My hope is that the experiences I will acquire related to administrative roles in business will provide me with a head start on mastering the courses’ main concepts.
Aside from the business expertise I will cultivate during my time with La Casita de Inglés, this program will also allow me to integrate my bilingual abilities and love for travel. As the daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and an Irish-Italian father, I had a very multicultural upbringing. My mother was especially influential in teaching me the Spanish language from a young age and raising me with the customs of the Hispanic culture. My upbringing has not only given me an appreciation for diversity but also an eagerness to travel and explore other cultures. A few years ago I toured Spain to visit family and fell in love with the country’s diverse autonomous regions and their unique histories. From then on, one of my career goals has been to return and work abroad. Participating in this internship program will be my first experience working in a cross-cultural setting, and I am excited to learn about the traditions and customs unique to the Spanish culture that influence their business world. Furthermore, because I live and attend school in an area where there are few Spanish speakers, I want to use this program as an opportunity to practice my Spanish and study the dialects of Madrileños.
All in all, this program is a wonderful opportunity, and I cannot wait to begin work!