The biggest takeaways from this experience will be the skillset I have adapted during my time here, which will stick with me for the rest of my life. So far, I have worked diligently on improving and getting the most possible out of this experience. In terms of soft skills, I have found that I have grown the most in creativity and resourcefulness. This growth has come specifically from my time at my internship. I work for an automotive industry PR agency, and I have had several tasks that all require creativity and resourcefulness. I have become more creative in thinking of new ways to structure biographies that I write about journalists/clients and being able to make them more aesthetically appealing. I have developed resourcefulness in being able to research more effeçtively to find what I am looking for. There is sometimes information that I need to find about different media contacts, and a lot of times the information is not easily accessible. So I have learned new ways of tailoring my searches, and knowing where to look when I cannot find the necessary information.

As for hard skills, I have learned a decent amount about Google applications and various media tools, such as Meltwater and Cision. In our cirriculum at Pitt, we use Microsoft Suite, so it has been helpful to learn more about another prominent software package. There is a good chance I will use either Microsoft or Google, so getting more familiar with Google is likely to come in handy. I have also learned about less known tools such as Meltwater and Cision, which are widely used in the media industry. These tools have helped me immensely to find different sources, contacts, etc. in pulling together lists of potential coverage.

But with my learning through tasks has come learning from the foreign workplace, specifically in navigating cross-cultural situations. This applies to both my internship and classes. We were told going into our internship that when British people say one thing, they mean another thing entirely. I have found this to be somewhat true. I have learned to read between the lines a bit, as well as anticipating potential feedback. I have also had to adapt to the different class structure here. In the US, we are usually assigned lots of smaller assignments throughout the semester, as well as larger tests and projects. Whereas here, we rarely have small assignments, and our grade is determined more on about 3-4 highly weighted tasks.

Reflecting on my interactions with both locals and other program participants (all American), I have found that these have impacted me in different ways than I had expected. A common thing that I have had to get used to is the somewhat lackluster experiences with service workers. I have traveled a lot so far in my life, but never long enough to fully acknowledge why it is that non-Americans tend to be less cheery at all times. Many service workers do not expect tips and/or are not hired based on how bubbly they are. This has honestly felt like a more genuine experience that those I have in the States, as I know people are showing their true selves and feelings in that moment. As for my experiences with other study abroad students, I have come to realize that we are all impacted together. We are all learning new things, and it is exciting to be able to relate to others in this way. Everyone works better together knowing that they are not the only one that is not used to the new class structures or British way of life.

Here is a few photos from my recent trip to Edinburgh, Scotland!