It’s hard to believe my time in Dublin has officially come to an end. Looking back, these past two months have been some of the most memorable, challenging, and rewarding weeks I have ever had. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the international internship program and to everyone who made it possible, especially the donors who helped fund my experience.

This summer, I interned with a professor at Trinity College Dublin who works in the Centre for Economics, Politics, and History. I was helping with a research project that looks at how markets have reacted to Western aid during the Ukrainian Russian war. My role was mostly technical, I worked with large datasets, wrote Python code to access and organize the data, and helped prep everything for a deeper analysis from my supervisor. The work was challenging in the best way. I was usually given week-long tasks to complete on my own, so I learned to manage my time and troubleshoot problems independently. It gave me a real sense of ownership over what I was doing, and responsibility for deadlines.

Professionally, this internship gave me real-world experience I would not have gotten in a classroom. It pushed me to be more proactive, especially when things did not go according to plan. I also improved my communication skills just from working one on one with my supervisor. I am walking away from this summer feeling a lot more confident about my ability to contribute to research and handle responsibility in a work setting.

On the academic side, I learned quite a lot, not just about economics and policy, but about how to use Python in ways I haven’t before. I was accessing APIs, reorganizing large quantities of data, and figuring out how to structure everything for long-term use. It’s actually sparked some ideas I want to bring back to Pitt. I’ve started thinking about building my own app or website, maybe something that visualizes data in a way that’s useful for the public. I don’t know exactly what it’ll be yet, but I know this internship gave me the inspiration and tools to at least start.

Outside of work, I had some awesome travel experiences that I’ll never forget. I took a solo trip to Killarney by train, which was my first time traveling completely alone. I hiked a small mountain there, and while I was hoping for a great view, I ended up at the top surrounded by clouds at the summit! Even though I couldn’t see anything, the whole experience still felt worth it. It was a challenge I set for myself and something I probably wouldn’t have done before this summer. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and that alone made it meaningful.

I also went to Milan with three of my friends from high school, which was a fun mix of catching up and exploring somewhere new. And one of the highlights of the whole summer was taking a trip to Paris with one of my roommates from Dublin. We saw the River Seine, ate good food, and met new friends.

Speaking of roommates, living in Dublin with the people I met through this program was one of the best parts of the experience. We all came in not knowing each other, but we became close really fast. Whether we were cooking dinner, exploring the city, or just talking after work, we built a real bond. These are people I’ll stay friends with long after this summer, and I’m so glad we shared this chapter of our lives together.

Now that I’m back, I feel like I’m bringing a lot home with me, not just in terms of skills or experience, but in mindset too. I feel more independent, more motivated, and more open to stepping into new situations, even if they’re a little uncomfortable. At Pitt, I plan to keep building on what I learned. I want to keep working on coding projects, maybe get involved in more research, and encourage other students to consider an international internship. There are plenty of resources at Pitt to allow me to build on my skills and even find research opportunities. Going to Dublin this summer was truly a life changing experience, and I can’t recommend it enough. 

This summer gave me more than I could’ve expected. I grew as a student, as a professional, and as a person. I’m incredibly thankful for everyone who made it possible, and I’m excited to see where everything I’ve learned takes me next.