Hey there! I’m Kate Sams, and I’m super excited to be graduating from the University of Pittsburgh this fall with my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I am majoring in Finance, and I’ve also got minors in Economics and Hispanic Language & Culture, plus a certificate in International Business – I am the type of person who loves to stay busy, eager to get the absolute most out of my college experience! I have had an amazing three years here but am excited for the next chapter in my life.
Growing up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh (Bethel Park) with frequent “T” rides into town for sports games and museum visits, I have always considered the city to be my home. This made attending Pitt feel like a natural choice, and I ultimately had a very comfortable transition. Throughout my time here, I’ve not only managed to keep up a 4.0 GPA, which I’m pretty proud of, but I’ve also been deeply involved in the Pitt community. It’s also been a journey of personal growth where I’ve formed a much greater appreciation for the larger world around me. Despite having lived in Pittsburgh my entire life, I have developed a strong desire to travel the world and see all it has to offer. I can’t wait to see where I wind up after graduation with plans to work abroad and learn more about other world cultures.
Some of my favorite courses, like International Finance and Development Economics, have fueled my passion for international business management and for becoming a more globally minded individual. Pitt’s study abroad programs have also been invaluable to my undergraduate experience and have encouraged me to pursue a career working internationally. During my freshman year, I enrolled in PittPlus3 and traveled to Cyprus for two weeks to meet with company executives and discuss global supply chains post-pandemic. This was my first trip outside of the United States and the experience just left me wanting more. I felt that I had to pursue another study abroad program before I could finish my time at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Global Service-Learning course in Puerto Rico was the perfect opportunity for me to do so once more before graduation with such a busy senior schedule & tight budget. Combining a three-credit course during the semester with a one-week trip abroad during Spring Break felt like a very practical and affordable option for me, especially after receiving generous scholarships. Enrolling in this course not only fulfills the study abroad requirement of my certificate program but also gives me even more exposure to global business operations and management consulting, which will help me develop relevant skills for a career working internationally. I’m excited to work with Caras Con Causa, a sustainable organization focused on community resource management and educational programs for disadvantaged students, on a project that will be continued by future cohorts of students. Our current focus is on promoting the LabCom, a unique community laboratory facility, to higher education institutions for robust learning opportunities to study the wetland ecosystems that are of great importance to the San Juan metropolitan. The goal is to successfully recruit colleges for this study away experience, contributing to the organization’s mission and generating another source of revenue.
Alongside this rigorous course and my other academic commitments, I have worked a part-time job at Pitt’s Small Business Development Center since my first semester, offering general consulting services to local entrepreneurs. In this role, I collaborate with a team of fellow students, guided by an experienced consultant, to manage a client base of more than one hundred small businesses in the area. I frequently engage in meetings with clients, review business plans, and perform website SEO reviews. This job provided me with an extremely valuable opportunity to learn not only technical skills for improving business operations in various industries but also soft skills for effective communication and collaboration. My prior experience with consulting should be useful in the project with Caras con Causa.
Additionally, I have enjoyed dedicating time each week to volunteering at the Stress-Free Zone on campus, mentoring students on the benefits of mindfulness and other stress-reduction techniques. This space has hugely influenced my personal growth as I have learned to prioritize my mental health during such an overwhelming time as a student with endless tasks to complete. I also find it rewarding to help others take steps to manage their stress and improve their well-being. During my freshman year, I enrolled in a course about Wellness & Resilience, which helped me form techniques for handling both regular stress and more extreme feelings of panic. In my free time, I can destress by watching movies, spending time with my family, and spoiling my beloved pets a.k.a children: Howie (the dog), Dusty (the chinchilla), and Harvey (the hamster). Overall, I have chosen to invest in myself by developing healthy emotional regulation skills so that I can better handle the real stresses of adult life and help others to do the same.
As I gear up for the final semesters of my undergraduate career and take on this global service-learning project (which feels almost like the grand finale), I am experiencing a strong mix of excitement and gratitude. I can’t help but reflect on my incredible experiences here that have shaped me into the young adult I am today. Pitt has provided me with such a strong academic foundation and an avenue for pursuing my interest in globalized business, which I would never have had the opportunity to explore otherwise. This GSL class will likely be one of the most beneficial I will ever take, so I am ready for all the adventures and insights it’s going to bring. It’s a chance to synthesize everything I’ve learned, put it into action, and make a real impact. As I step into this final phase of my college journey, I carry with me not just academic knowledge but a deep appreciation for the diverse perspectives Pitt has exposed me to. Here’s to the exciting future that lies ahead!