With less than 2 months left in my program, I am realizing just how much both my soft and hard skills have developed throughout my time here. The soft skill I feel I have developed the most here has been teamwork – both inside the classroom and outside. Being a business major, group work is nothing new to me, but the emphasis on collaboration here has been notable. Unlike some of my experiences back at Pitt, where I felt disconnected within my group and ended up taking on most of the workload, here there’s a strong focus on cohesive teamwork. Although at KEDGE I’ve still had some trouble and it has caused me some stress, I have made a conscious effort to refrain from taking on others’ tasks. By doing this, I have noticed an improvement in my communication skills, along with increased flexibility regarding when a project can be done (i.e. it doesn’t need to get done the second it’s assigned). I also have more time to focus on other classes, explore Marseille, and travel to other countries without feeling stressed. Outside the classroom, studying abroad has pushed me to collaborate with a team wherever I go. Whether it’s coordinating plans, organizing travel schedules, or overcoming language barriers, my teamwork abilities have grown. I’m looking forward to returning to Pittsburgh and applying these skills in my internship and final year. 

Surprisingly, one hard skill I didn’t expect to improve much here is my French. To preface, I have never taken a French class before, and I wouldn’t even claim to be at a kindergarten level in French. However, when it comes to places like grocery stores, boulangeries, pharmacies, and transportation, I believe I can now comprehend and respond to the few questions I might be asked. I’ve also developed my presentation skills significantly. Presenting, especially without a script, has never been my strong suit. In one of my classes, groups were randomly selected to present (meaning no one knew if they’d be going that week or not), with just 10 minutes to address around 30 questions. This forced us to prepare thoroughly and select the most crucial points to fit within the time constraint. Despite it not being the best presentation overall and feeling nervous initially, I’m confident I will feel much more confident in similar situations moving forward. 

Reflecting on my interactions with other exchange students, I realize more than ever my passion for traveling and immersing myself in new cultures. Some of my favorite discoveries have been the various ways people refer to or react to the same things. I find myself paying attention to the nuances I never considered before, wondering if they differ elsewhere. I can’t fully express the impact these interactions have had on my own identity, but I do recognize the numerous benefits of studying abroad that I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to have lived abroad in my 20s!!