It is hard to believe but my time in Dublin and on this program has officially come to an end. It feels like just yesterday I was on the flight to Dublin extremely excited for the upcoming 8 weeks but also very nervous. I was nervous about all sorts of things. What if I go to the wrong spot? What if my internship is not for me? Luckily for me none of these worries were a reality when I had arrived. I had a great opportunity at Irish Insolvency Solutions that allowed me to build so much on my career, while working with great people and having a great time being there. Looking back on this experience now that it is over I realize how amazing it truly was to live in Dublin and experience the day to day culture there for as long as I was.
So much has changed for me since my first day in Dublin. At first everything was new to me: the city, people, living conditions, and even insolvency, which were all things that I was forced to adapt to and become comfortable with, which I eventually did. This program was definitely helpful to get me acclimated to the new conditions. Having roommates that were all from Pitt and were similar majors to me was great for me to feel comfortable in where I was from the first day.
One of the biggest things that I have noticed has changed for me since the start of this program has been how much more independent I have become. This had led to a large amount of personal growth. Going to another country and being forced out of your comfort zone with a bunch of strangers, while it was terrifying at first, has made me such a more outgoing and confident person. Also throughout the internship there was no one there to hold my hand during my tasks. Obviously if I had any questions everyone was more than willing to help me, but I was forced to figure some things out on my own and make mistakes and learn. I have become much more comfortable with making little mistakes as well. In my internship I had to write up and print out dozens of letters a week so I was bound to mess something up here and there. At first I hated messing up and felt bad. However as the weeks went on I embraced the failures and accepted that they were going to happen and the only thing I can do with them in the future is learn from them and try to prevent them from happening again.
Academically, I’ve also taken a lot away from this trip. It’s one thing to learn about international business, cultural differences, but it’s completely different when you’re living and working in a country like Ireland and seeing those things in action. My internship at Irish Insolvency Solutions gave me hands-on experience in the financial services world specifically in personal and corporate insolvency. I learned about debt restructuring, creditor meetings, and the legal processes people go through when they’re struggling financially. Some of the companies needed to be liquidated because they had messed up and there were also some good stories where someone is retiring or just moving onto better things. The idea of insolvency is under a negative connotation and while sometimes that is the case it is important to highlight the good cases as well.
Professionally, I grew quite a bit. The office environment in Ireland was definitely more laid back than what I’m used to in the U.S. There wasn’t this constant pressure to be attentive all the time or to always look busy. People trusted you to get your work done but also made time to talk, joke around, and build real relationships. I wasn’t used to that at first, but over time, I saw how important it was. I learned that being a successful employee isn’t just about getting the task done, it’s about how you communicate, how you contribute to the team, and how you carry yourself. It is so important to build relationships with co-workers and work together on projects so that you can do tasks as efficiently as possible.
As I head back to the US, I plan to bring everything I’ve learned with me. Personally, I feel more independent and more willing to take risks. Academically, I’ve seen how what I’m learning in class connects to the real world. And professionally, I’ve grown into someone who can work through challenges, adapt to different work styles, and contribute to a team in a meaningful way.
