It’s hard to believe that it has come to my final three days out of my three months studying abroad. The saying really is true that time flies when you’re having fun! I have gained and grown so much from this experience both personally and academically. Personally, I have become a more independent, confident version of my pre-abroad self. I found immersing myself in every new culture I came across to be extremely helpful with this. My initial hesitancies were quickly settled once I decided to not let my fears get in the way of amazing opportunities. For example, when I was in Barcelona I challenged myself to speak as much Spanish as possible, even though I wasn’t always sure what the correct thing to say was. By doing this I not only learned some new vocabulary, but I was also better able to connect with locals! Academically, I have learned so much from all of my courses. With the class content being rooted in British culture, I was able to learn things that I never would be able to back in Pittsburgh. Specifically, I really enjoyed my marketing and advertising classes because they gave me a much better perspective on international business. I believe that the concepts, case studies, and discussions from these courses will be very applicable to the rest of my education with Pitt Business. I am excited to now be able to bring a unique, global perspective to my classes. I really think this will be a valuable asset in helping me better engage with my business studies. 

Thinking further ahead post college, the knowledge that I have gained abroad will still be very relevant. Not only is studying abroad something that will probably come up in a lot of interviews, but I believe it will genuinely help me in the workplace. I have gained stronger communication skills, a better understanding of marketing industries, and I overall just feel like a more well rounded individual. My diverse experiences give me a unique background that I truly think can be applied to any business situation. I have kept a journal during my time here so that I don’t forget all of the valuable lessons I’ve learned. One of the most important lessons I have learned from this experience is to not be afraid to try new things. A lot of times change can be overwhelming and the unknown can be daunting. However, three months of constantly trying new things has taught me to lean into that uncertainty and conquer it before it conquers you. I have truly had the best time in London and am so grateful for all the amazing memories I get to bring home with me. This has been a time in my life that I will cherish forever. 

I took a day trip outside of the city to the English countryside this past weekend. It was such a nice change of scenery!