Hi everyone! My name is Mckenna Harnett-Maeuser and I am going to Berlin as part of the IIP program. I am majoring in accounting, and on track to get my CPA. I am also minoring in international business and German! I am an upcoming senior but will be doing a year in the master’s program to be eligible for my CPA. Once I graduate, I plan to stay in Pittsburgh for a post graduate internship with one of the Big Four companies. If not, I hope to move to Charleston! Aside from school, I am a part of the Pitt cheer team! I attend many sporting events and events across campus and the surrounding communities. One of my favorite games I have attended was the home football game against UNC back in 2021. Ending in a big victory, I was jumping around in the rain with all my friends, and it will be a night I won’t ever forget! Although football is one of the most memorable events, I also enjoy cheering for the volleyball team. I have been cheering all my life so getting to cheer throughout college has been nothing but a wonderful experience!  

As for myself, I grew up in New Jersey right across the border from Pennsylvania. I have a twin sister who most say we look identical, but I don’t see it. She attends Penn State University, so we tend to visit each other often! My dad grew up going back and forth from Germany as his parents are from there, so I am looking forward to getting to go myself. He is from a small town in Bavaria, but I am hoping to go to his hometown sometime during my free time while I am in Berlin! At home, I have three cats named Peanut, Lily, and Gizmo. At school, my roommate recently adopted a kitten as well who is very entertained with things like pencils or random crumbs she finds. Me and my friends enjoy making cookies, going out on the weekends, and going for walks when it is warm out. Although cheer does take a lot of time during the week, we always find some time to do something fun! Some other hobbies I have include listening to music, specifically Noah Kahan, the 502s, and any country music. I also enjoy watching the sunset and going to new places.  

I will be going to Berlin in a few days for the IIP program and have never been so excited! I chose this program because I have been eager to study abroad ever since I applied to college. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to get experience in my field of study and learn more about my culture. I have been learning German for about 3 years, so I look forward getting to improve my German speaking skills with those at work and other locals. I have always wanted to go to Germany, so this was a perfect opportunity to do something I have always wanted to do along with getting real work experience. I would like to learn more about how business is conducted in Europe and see how it is compared to the US. 

Overall, I hope I get to learn more about myself. Not just personally, but professionally as well. I hope to find new hobbies, try new foods, and make new friends. It will prove to myself that I am adaptable and able to handle different types of situations. I hope this experience gives me long lasting memories and skills I can continue using as I move forward academically and professionally.  

After this experience, I hope I narrow down what I want to do professionally. With a minor in international business, I am eager to work with an international companyand learn from those with another point of view of how business is conducted. I am hoping after this summer that I will be able to dive deeper into what exactly I want to do as a career and whether my job role at my internship will be something I would like to continue doing as a profession. There is such a big difference performing accounting in a classroom to a firm, so I am eager to learn more about what the real life of accounting is like. I hope my bosses can give me feedback I can take back to my academics and leave with professional connections with others across the world. I am looking forward to meeting everyone in Berlin and cannot wait for the next 2 months!