This weekend was really fun as the group got the chance to go to an infamous Pittsburgh Pirates game. The cherry on top was them actually winning! As our time in Pittsburgh comes to an end, I want to take time to reflect on my experiences so far. One of my favorite parts of the program is the lunch and learn gatherings. Even without the perks of a free lunch, I love hearing about what is essentially the professional journey that these individuals have been through. It’s interesting to hear about their experiences and the ups and downs to get them where they are today. It’s comforting to hear about how throughout the years, many of them have changed their career path in some way. You don’t have to have everything figured out this early. In contrast, I reflected on myself and thought about how I can get connected to people in the business world to help start my professional career. I have also enjoyed many of the site visits and trying to connect them to Ireland. While they had their differences, many of them were trying to improve the foot traffic of their town to improve the economy during the offseason. I thought Fayette County especially was very similar to Carrigart Ireland as they have a season bike trail that relies on their natural assets to draw in tourists.

In Ireland, I am most looking forward to getting to know the small business owners on a personal level and talking about the marketing side of their business, as it relates to my part of the group project. I am particularly interested in knowing how they collaborate with each other to boost their businesses. Aside from the business outlook on the trip, I am very excited to see the beautiful scenery of Ireland and to enjoy the outdoor activities.