I grew in many ways, both personally and professionally, during my time participating in the Haller Global Honors Fellowship. In terms of professional development, I’ve determined the various site visits as a key point of this growth. Specifically, the Refillery and Guinness Enterprise Center resonated with me. I was very impressed with the mission of the Refillery and I thought the model of reusing containers for hand soaps and detergents was a great and unique way to contribute to the circular economy. The Guinness Enterprise Center was also very impressive to me. The idea of creating a community for smaller businesses to work together and mutually grow was something I had never known existed. It seemed like a work environment I would be happy to be a part of. Overall, these site visits showed me how creative thinking and innovation is such a crucial and interesting part of the business world, and it is something that I can look to pursue for myself in the future. 

I am so thankful for my time in both Pittsburgh and Ireland because I believe I grew as a person in many ways. My connections to the professors and the other students in the program have made me much more excited to attend Pitt for the fall semester. Furthermore, having an understanding of Pitt’s campus and facilities has given me confidence in my ability to thrive at Pitt. Being independent for the first time in my life also taught me lessons about myself that I never knew before. I now have a better understanding of my personal needs in a college environment, and I developed time management skills. My experience was invaluable and I am so glad I made the decision to join this program.