Hello! My name is Audrey Bryce and I am originally from Ambler, Pennsylvania. I am a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Law, Criminal Justice, and Society with a minor in Creative writing. I have only recently declared my major this past Fall semester as a junior, as I have never felt an indisputable “passion” for a particular career field that I have heard oftentimes described by others who display career goals early on in their lives. I could not help but wonder throughout my initial years of college whether I was lacking ambition or purpose, comparing myself to my peers and fellow students around me who seemed to have it all figured out. Maybe I was just unforgivably indecisive.

Nevertheless, I have come to realize that I would be gravely misspoken to say I am lacking in ambition and drive. My so-called “indecisiveness” granted me the opportunity to utilize my first two years of college to expand my knowledge and explore a multitude of different subject matters, discovering what motivated me, and also finding those classes I dreaded. I learned a lot about myself and what excited me, eventually tailoring the rest of my academic career toward those areas of study, specifically the legal system and criminal justice. I began to take law-related classes my sophomore year, and have been engrossed in the area ever since, with a yearning to help people stuck within the system. Additionally, through various journalism and literature courses, I finally acknowledged my talent for writing, and have decided to continue this interest in pursuance of a Creative Writing minor. I am looking forward to the near future as I plan to apply to law schools following graduation, utilizing both the writing skills I have developed and my accumulated knowledge of the legal system to lead me to greater success in my academic and professional life. I am excited to discover what my academic and professional future holds.

Aside from my academic journey of self-discovery, I have gained valuable experience within participation in extracurricular activities on Pitt’s campus. Since Spring of 2022, I have been an active member of my sorority Delta Delta Delta, the Alpha Theta Chapter. For the 2022-2023 academic year, I was elected as the Assistant Director of Philanthropy. The Director, the committee, and I worked consistently throughout the school year to promote the admirable work and mission of our Philanthropy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I was even lucky enough to have had the opportunity to travel to their headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee the prior summer in 2022 to witness their extraordinary mission firsthand.

Additionally, I have been a member of the Women’s Club Basketball Team at Pitt since the beginning of my sophomore year. Basketball had always been a significant part of my life throughout high school, so I am so grateful to be able to continue playing throughout my college years. I also assumed the role of Social Chair for the team, managing the team’s social media and coordinating with other club teams regarding potential social events. I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience and find it difficult to fathom that I am entering my final year.

Finally, I have arrived at the reason for this post: I am one week out from embarking on the International Internship Program in Dublin, Ireland. I have always had the desire to study abroad since I began my undergraduate experience. When I discovered this opportunity to both study abroad while also participating in an internship rather than solely taking classes, I was sold. The idea of living in Dublin, Ireland particularly peaked my interest as I am of Irish heritage. My grandparents grew up in Northern Ireland, and my dad often spent his summers there. Many relatives still reside in and around Dublin. I have traveled twice to Ireland before with my family, visiting the area in which my grandparents grew up. We embarked on an emotional journey together as we retraced the significant locations of their childhoods, exploring and discussing the meaningful places that shaped them into the wonderful people they are today. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to immerse myself in the Irish culture and learn more about my heritage.

Ultimately, I strongly believe this internship experience will not only contribute to my academic and career goals but will enable immense personal growth. In the workplace, specifically, a valued skill to embrace is that of adaptability, which cannot me taught–simply learned. Upon arrival to Dublin, I will embrace the Irish culture, adjusting to Irish culture, practices, and commonalities in order to successfully fulfill the duties of my internship and in turn, the duties of future job opportunities.

For the next 2 months, I will be fully engaged within the Irish culture, discovering a new appreciation for my own family history while gaining a newfound worldly perspective. This new perspective and outlook on life will be invaluable for me for years to come, in various aspects of my life. I hope to take this opportunity to develop a greater sense of self-sufficiency and independence. While I consider myself an independent individual, I oftentimes lack the confidence to always believe that and remain steadfast in that belief. In Dublin I will be challenged within an entirely new-environment, forcing myself to believe in myself and my capabilities. As I have been telling myself, I will have to “get comfortable getting uncomfortable.”

I am thrilled to commence on this new journey, and am looking forward to the ways in which I will flourish!