My name is Madelyn Och, and I am a part of the Haller program for the 2025 summer!! I am super excited to have the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland to gain academic and cultural experience! I am from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, which is about 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh. I was a cheerleader in high school and in doing so was very involved in my school through clubs and volunteer opportunities. I also love to read, bake, listen to music, shop, and do crafts in my free time!
Academically, I am currently undecided on my business pathway, but have interests in both the math/accounting side and the marketing side. This past fall, I job-shadowed the Vice President in Sales of a cybersecurity company near Pittsburgh to gain experience in the field before coming into college. This enlightened me on a lot of business practices and also the technology side of their company as well! I am excited to see how my engagement in this program will possibly influence my decision on my major by getting first-hand experience in the business environment.
This program first sparked my interest because my Aunt is an Irish Film Professor here at Pitt and loves both visiting and studying about Ireland and their culture. I wanted to be able to get that experience abroad and research/study the business environment in a different country, so this program is a great experience for me! I think the study abroad portion of this program will really open my eyes and appreciate the different cultures around me. I also think this program will allow me to make a lot of great connections that will especially help me in the near future and set me up for success within this profession. I can’t wait to continue both academically and experientially on this program!