“Thanks a mill,” or “thanks a million,” is an Irish phrase I’ve started to love over my trip. It embodies the Irish spunk and manners that I’ve become acquainted with. Saying goodbye to my work routine, coworkers, and Ireland happened in a blur. It’s definitely bittersweet because I have loved my time here, but I missed my friends and family… and root bowls a lot! It’s been great to reconnect at home, and it’s been easy to readjust to my “normal life.” I’ve tried not to adjust too quickly or easily, letting myself notice the differences between the states and Ireland.

Personally, this experience has made me more individually confident. Previously I might feel like I should wait to go out until some of my friends were free because I felt that being alone in public was slightly uncomfortable. This summer I went to the city, concerts, and other countries all by myself. I even went on my first solo backpacking trip. I learned that it can be a ton of fun to just be out doing something alone. I stopped caring about what other people might think of me and started just doing what I wanted to do. I’ve always been an extravert, so I found new ways to connect with people when alone and wanting someone to chat with. As I became more comfortable with going out solo, I noticed that I became more directly and unashamedly myself with strangers and in new situations. I plan to continue going on solo adventures, big or small, in the next semester and years.

While I’ve had the privilege to travel to foreign countries a good bit in the past, this was my first time staying for more than 3 weeks. This level of immersion deepened my respect and love for Irish people and their country. I definitely fell in love with Irish humor and manners. Getting used to the local pace of life, the conversational style, and the subtle cultural nuances was satisfying and fun. I had plenty of moments where I felt completely at home, settled into the rhythm of everyday life. Only to suddenly remember that I was technically in a foreign country I wasn’t truly a part of. While I truly was just a visitor, it was neat to feel at home in Ireland.

Professionally I have grown so much since the beginning of my internship. I had only just switched to architecture as my major at the beginning of the program. I hadn’t spent much time mentally preparing or understanding what actually working in architecture might be like before I had my first day. I would say that 85% of the things I did were partial or new learning experiences for me, from the architectural language used to the software programs. At first I was freaked out about feeling so unprepared and having so many learning hurdles to jump. This situation made me think on my feet and be a problem solver and a quick learner. With every learning curve I just kept pushing until I came to a point at the end of the experience where I had so much more confidence than before. Learning on the go made me think on my feet and be a problem solver and a quick learner. I also feel that my skin has toughened when faced with difficult situations. In the future I think this will help me in new workplaces that may feel just as foreign.

I’m looking forward to using more architectural language in school next semester. I also look forward to integrating what I learned about the business side of the firm into my projects and design logic. I also improved my Revit, SketchUp, and InDesign skills and am looking forward to using them as soon as I get into the studio. In my future career I look forward to continuing to establish some of my principles from this summer. I want to become a more efficient problem solver. I hope to continue being a quick learner through listening to more experienced coworkers and learning from each of my mistakes. I want to continue to be resilient when tough situations come my way. Lastly, I want to be quick on my feet in all of these things so that I can continue to grow and learn in these and many more ways.

As I return to Pitt, I feel more confident in myself and in the direction I’m heading, both personally and professionally. I’ve gained a clearer understanding of the architecture field and developed skills I’m excited to bring into the classroom and beyond. Thanks a million!