Hi! My name is Antoinette Adeyemo, and I am a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh. I’m from Raleigh, North Carolina, and I chose Pitt to push myself outside of my comfort zone by living in a city. I love the size and atmosphere of Pittsburgh, and I’m forever grateful I challenged myself to leave my hometown for college. Though the adjustment to Pittsburgh’s harsh winter was an adjustment from the mild southern weather I am used to, I’m finally building a tolerance for freezing cold temperatures. I arrived on campus without having toured previously and without knowing a single person, and now I’m proud to share that I’ve built a beautiful community of friends who feel like family.

In my free time, I love to go hiking! North Carolina is known as the “Great Trail State” for its extensive network of over 1,400 miles of trails. I’m new to hiking, but I’ve already noticed a positive impact on my mental and physical health. I now have a deeper appreciation for nature, and I’m filled with a sense of peace as hiking is a great way to stay off my phone and let my mind wander.

I also love to go thrifting, crochet, and read. My favorite author is Sally Rooney and I’m currently reading her latest book: Intermezzo! I started crocheting last winter and it’s a stress reliever and a great way to make hand-crafted gifts for my friends and family. Most of the time, I stick with a simple crochet blanket that I can mindlessly make while watching Netflix. I also listen to music all the time, especially on long walks or hikes. A few of my favorite artists are the Lumineers, Beach House, and Kendrick Lamar.

I have two part-time jobs at a retirement home and Outback Steakhouse. For the past two years, I’ve worked at the retirement home as a server, and since last May, I’ve worked at Outback as a hostess and server assistant. I’ve worked 9 different service jobs since I was 16, and I have a love-hate relationship with the service industry. I like meeting new people at work and working in fast-paced environments, but serving can be draining mentally and physically. Over breaks, when I work a lot, I try to lean into my self-care routine and activities such as hiking and crocheting that bring me peace. Last summer, I (miserably) worked 3 jobs at the same time to save as much money as possible. It was extremely humbling, and I learned a lot, but I’m ready to slowly transition away from the service industry and into a professional role that aligns with finance.

I’m enrolled in the Dublin International Internship Program from May 26th to July 18th. I’m a finance major with a sociology minor seeking professional experience to help me shape and discover my future career direction (I am very lost). On campus, I am involved in Delta Sigma Pi and Smart Women Securities, and I work part-time as a member services attendant at the student recreation center. This fall, I will start a new role as a Prevention Assistant at Prevention at Pitt.

Pitt’s International Internship Program stood out to me as a great way to gain hands-on professional experience while also broadening my horizons through immersion in a new culture. I was drawn to Ireland’s lack of a language barrier, walkable nature, and its prominence in financial services. I’ve never been to Europe before, and I am so excited to explore Ireland and (possibly) neighboring countries like Scotland! I am (sadly) unable to take a full semester abroad, so this program is the perfect opportunity for me to study abroad, while still meeting my academic goals during the school year. As I write this from the airport, I’m terrified of going so far away for 8 weeks, but I know this experience will be transformative, and being uncomfortable is a sign of growth. I look forward to strengthening my communication skills, my sense of self, and independence as I navigate an entirely new city on my own!

I’m thrilled to begin interning at Moop, a communications firm specializing in financial communications. As a strategic communications intern, this role will allow me to gain experience with financial analysis and market research while also venturing into communications for the first time. My day-to-day tasks will include financial analysis, market research, and content creation. I’m so thankful to Pitt Business for this opportunity, and I look forward to growing professionally, meeting new people, and trying lots of food!