Hey everyone! It is with a heavy heart that I write this last blog post about my semester abroad in London. Though I’m sad to leave, I’m looking forward to coming back to a place where people drive on the right side of the road!
My time in London in a word has been extraordinary. My personal, academic, and professional growth opportunities have been unparalleled in a new country. Being someone who had little previous international travel experience, coming to London has taught me new ways on being self-reliant and solving travel related issues, as well as navigating and succeeding in a culture that I was previously unfamiliar with. Learning how to adapt quickly was something I definitely had to learn coming here. After this experience, I feel very confident in my international traveling abilities, and even put it to the test here by going to Austria by myself for a weekend to see how I’d do. Needless to say, it was a success.
Academically and professionally, having to balance all of my schoolwork while simultaneously working an internship and also traveling internationally during my time was a huge learning opportunity. One thing that I found helpful, that I already generally did back in the States was keep in constant communication with professors regarding coursework, academic feedback, and skills necessary to succeed. The same went with my internship opportunity. Managing the workload while also being transparent about my progress gave me the confidence to ask for help when I needed it, as well as lend a hand when a coworker was swamped with work. Through academic and professional experiences, I’ve been shaped into a professional and a student who is driven to succeed as the team succeeds.
The skills I learned in London will prove to be invaluable during the rest of my time at Pitt Business and beyond. Having the knowledge that I do now, I can leverage my experiences both in academic and professional settings to distinguish myself from my peers and succeed in the job market through effective, quantitative communication about how studying abroad has made me a more well-rounded individual.
What was also helpful to get me through the hump to home was my family coming over for Thanksgiving! Who knew seeing familiar faces could be so helpful? Also going on excellent adventures was a plus for the whole experience, like visiting the Seven Sisters cliffs this weekend!
That’s it everyone! I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about my time abroad and how it won’t go to waste back in the States. Like JRR Tolkien said, in life “The road goes ever on”.
