I had the best six weeks studying and interning in Sydney, Australia. It was just as hard to leave the people that I have met throughout this program as it was to leave this beautiful place. I was able to experience a lot of neat things such as feeding kangaroos, hiking at the Blue Mountains, snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, visiting the Giants facility and playing Australian football with my classmates, visiting the Opera House, and walking on Bondi Beach. I am so grateful for these memories that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.

Professionally – I feel that I have made a lot of great connections throughout this experience. My supervisor was able to offer me life advice as well as professional advice. My internship has taught me to trust myself more when it comes to making decisions for projects. Due to the more relaxed work environment in Australia and because my job was remote, I had to do more things on my own and I learned a lot from that experience. I noticed I became more comfortable navigating new websites and tools. I really enjoyed my internship and think that opportunity will expand my options post-graduation. 

Personally – I am proud of myself for putting myself out of my comfort zone and going on this trip. When I first arrived, I wasn’t sure how I would make it six weeks, but in the end it ended up being more difficult for me to come home. I can’t imagine my life without this experience and I look forward to a time when I can return to Australia. Traveling alone doesn’t feel as daunting anymore and I am more motivated to explore as much as I can after I graduate college. I feel that I have learned a greater appreciation for the little things on this trip.

Academically – I really enjoyed being in a smaller class environment. I feel that it has made me more confident as a student and it has led me to create a closer connection with my professor. This helped enhance my presentation skills as I did not feel as much pressure. I learned to better manage my time and get things done quicker so I could allow myself a life outside of the classroom as well.

I intend to bring my newfound self-confidence with me to my remaining time at Pitt Business and in my future career. I will bring the intercultural competence and emotional intelligence I gained with me to better collaborate with diverse teams and understand different views. I want to remember how genuinely happy I felt in Sydney so that I always remember to work hard in order to give myself the opportunity to travel and explore as many new things as I can.