Pittsburgh, PA, is a town and a region that has shaped me and my beliefs. From a young age, I recall attending a Pittsburgh Pirates game and driving down I-279 to PNC Park in our 2014 Chevy Cruze. I was in the backseat, peering at the US Steel tower dominating the skyline and asking if that was the largest building in the world. At that moment, I did not know that about 10 years later, I would be attending college in Pittsburgh, watching a Pirates game, and then embarking on a trip to Ireland. When this started, I was excited and forward-thinking; I still am, but this prompt has gotten me to think back and reflect on how much Pittsburgh has influenced me. When driving down, I was with my Dad in a 2023 Chevy Malibu, a company that has also influenced me greatly. But if my parents did not have Chevrolets, I would think differently about American might and ingenuity. But it’s quite a similar experience, driving down the same road, I-279, this time from the front seat of our Chevrolet, and seeing the still-dominant US Steel tower, now knowing that it’s not the tallest in the world, but in history, it could have been. Going to the Pirates game, seeing them from the great view of the city and bridges from the first baseline. 

Throughout this trip, the one thing that stood out to me was how much the staff cares about us and wants to see us succeed. At first, I thought it was a gimmick, something I had heard all Universities say. When I went down, I was skeptical about how much unity there would be. But every person we met, seriously, every person on the Pitt staff that I met, was genuine and wanted us to do well. We met with many people on our Pittsburgh side of the trip, all with different experiences and knowledge to give. With Kathleen Foody-Malus, the former Senior Portfolio Manager of Freddie Mac. She was no-nonsense and straight to the point, which I liked. I remember asking a question that I could’ve gotten a soft answer to. The question was “Do you think that the increasing polarization of the US political system is affecting the Financial markets such as US Treasuries, the US Debt, and the US Dollar as the global reserve currency?” Now, this is a question that could be debated in many ways. But she did not shy away. She took the time to give an informative answer. She said that it has already begun to affect the Financial markets, she brought up the slow decline of the independence of the Federal Reserve, and brought up the attacks that Trump has thrown at Jerome Powell. The meeting that we had with her was very interesting and informative. 

Staying on the topic of politics, an area that I love and want to pursue further, and eventually become a politician. We met with Bryan Shultz, the director of Global Experiences at the University of Pittsburgh. We had a luncheon with him, during which we discussed questions we had about the program, its setup, and future travel opportunities at the University of Pittsburgh. However, we mentioned that he was formerly involved in politics. He worked in Washington and lobbied for what he believed in. I found this to be very helpful, as many people are hesitant to discuss politics openly. However, I love to, and I think that talking about politics leads to a better understanding of how each of us thinks and what we believe. I feel that we are a lot more similar than we’d like to admit. But I would like to know more about how he got into politics and why he left. Additionally, I believe it is crucial to stay informed about politics, especially if you are entering the finance field, which I am doing. Laws, regulations, and policies significantly impact every aspect of the financial world. 

During one of the excursions, we visited Connellsville, where we met with numerous people and a local company, Youghiogheny Glass Factory. We toured the facility and learned about its history, discovering that it is one of the five glass companies in the world capable of producing a special type of glass. The owner mentioned that 70% of her customers are international. To me, it was quite interesting, and it made me think about how politics influence that. Such as changing policies in Washington can have an effect; for example, if sand is imported, it costs them more. There are numerous angles to consider when thinking about how politics influences and impacts businesses, especially small businesses. That day, seeing Connellsville, it struck me how similar it is to the town that we are going to see in Ireland, Carrigart. Even though Connellsville is much bigger, it was remarkably similar, with both being tourism-based industries, both having one hotel, and both trying to attract people to their town. This excursion was very helpful in seeing a town so similar to where we are going.

But the reflection of the past only goes so far; the future is what we can change. I am typing this at beautiful Pittsburgh International Airport, thinking deeply about how I can make the most of my time in Ireland. In my first post, I mentioned that my ancestors had emigrated from Ulster, specifically my great-great-grandfather, John E. Donnelly. I thought about the what-if question of what would have happened if he had never come to the United States. Would I be on this trip, or even American? 

What I am looking forward to most about going to Ireland is experiencing the difference in the perception of the world and gaining a better understanding of the history of where my ancestors came from. For the first part, going to Ireland and the UK, they both have very extensive histories, but I am focusing on the last 100 years of living memory, for Ireland gaining independence from the UK and the UK slowly declining from a superpower to a world power. I want to know if people in the UK share a sense of pride in their former Empire or show a sense of regret for some of the horrors that it committed. However, it demonstrates how actions, both small and large, have lasting impacts on the world. If the British had provided more food and aid during the potato famine, would my great-great-grandfather have emigrated to the United States? Now I most likely won’t find the answers to that, but I can and will ask people for their opinions, and the court of public opinion is sometimes stronger than the court of law.

Also, I believe that people often hold on to their feelings and opinions because they are afraid to share them with others. However, I think that sharing their opinions can and will lead to genuine discussion, rather than debate. Some are afraid to speak their minds, fearing they may offend others. I believe that open discussion can help heal old wounds and bridge the gaps between polarized groups, ultimately benefiting all of humanity in the future. This is what I believe I’ve gained the most from so far during my trip to Pittsburgh: seeing a diverse range of people with various opinions. However, in the differences, there is agreement: they want their communities to be better, through better education, services, and jobs. The disagreement comes from how to bring these ideas to reality. 

Overall, this trip has been great so far, with wonderful memories, great friends, and enjoyable activities. However, looking forward to Ireland is to help the town of Carrigart.