I can’t believe my semester abroad is over! I have had the most enjoyable and experiential time of my life! I have grown so much as a person, student, and traveler. Over the past 4 months I made lifelong friends, gained a one-of-a-kind internship, and was able to travel more than I ever have before. I feel so incredibly lucky and can easily say I have never been happier! Study abroad was the best decision I have made for myself and my future.
It sounds cheesy, but the time I have spent abroad has changed me forever. I have expanded my knowledge of what the world holds, and the endless possibilities it offers. The world is my oyster! I always knew and heard about how different places are and the cultures found within, but I did not fully understand until I was faced eye to eye with them. It is so refreshing to see how many paths the world offers us. I feel more in control of what my future looks like than ever before. I am fortunate to grow up in America and get an education through Pitt, but I think it is so important to be able to see what other places offer you. By being abroad I was able to get a taste of what Europe is like and the pros and cons of being here. It has made me value certain aspects of America as well as see what other countries that have may not have been accustomed to me before that I do enjoy.
In almost all my classes we discuss the term cultural intelligence and how important it is as a human skill in and outside of the business realm. I know through my experience abroad I have an upper hand as I have been able to grow this skill over the past 4 months. Having cultural intelligence means being able to transition IQ and EQ skills onto a global scale. With my international schooling and internship opportunity I have become much more a part of the interdimensional world. I have been able to be a student as well as a worker in a foreign country and both have been so enriching.
I am excited to return to Pitt and better my new and old skills. I feel more like a Global Management major than ever before!
Thank you so much Pitt, Capa, and any donor for this unforgettable experience!
Ciao Florence!