Hi there! My name is Ellie Tongel; I’m a rising senior pursuing an Honors Finance Major and Theatre Arts Minor. I am from Plum, Pennsylvania, about 30 minutes east of Pittsburgh. On campus, I’m the Treasurer of the Chi Omega Phi Beta chapter, as well as a member of the Musical Theatre Club at Pitt.
This summer I am participating in the GBI: London program, where I will be both interning and taking class during my 6 weeks. I believe the length of this program fit perfectly into my academic timeline, as I could still have the opportunity to study abroad without being away for an entire semester. Ironically, now that I am here, I can already tell I would have loved staying longer as well!
The ability to complete both an international internship and my dream of travelling abroad simultaneously made the Global Business Institute the perfect fit. London was always my first choice in terms of studying abroad – something about the city drew me in and I knew if I had the chance I would go in a heartbeat. I love the amount of art and history engrained throughout the area, as well as it’s urban atmosphere, and cannot believe I am now able to experience it myself.
This summer I am interning at West End on the Thames within their Event Management and Customer Engagement Team. West End on the Thames is a specialty event company focusing on bespoke riverboat events along the River Thames. Its location on the River Thames draws appeal through a unique opportunity to view some of London’s best sights including Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and the London Eye. As an event coordinator, I will be working with the event team on in-house event preparation. I will then have the opportunity to work at client functions, meaning I will get to go on the riverboats!
I have noted quickly how important attention to detail is in this job and am appreciative that I will get to fine-tune it to such a degree. I am looking to enhance my confidence in contributing ideas to team efforts, as well as in adapting to problems as they arise. Through observation and participation, I am hoping to better understand team dynamics in a professional setting, as well as how to ask for help and clarity when needed. I also seek to become more knowledgeable in documentation and reporting, as these have more weight in a professional context. I am looking forward to seeing my administrative efforts brought to life when I execute them on the riverboat. I also am excited to see London’s sights on the river for myself as well!
In addition to my internship, I also will be completing the course Introduction to Shakespeare. As a Theatre Arts Minor, I am fulfilling my final required credits for the minor, as well as getting the opportunity to learn about Shakespeare in his element. I have already had the opportunity to view a production of The Crucible at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and I look forward to consequent field studies that the course will consist of!
Only one week into the program, I feel as though I have already experienced so much! I am proud of the growth I have already undergone and look forward to these upcoming weeks! I know I will make memories I will cherish forever, as well as become equipped with tangible skills to make me an asset in the professional world.