Hi! My name is Riley Ulrich, and I’m a junior at Pitt Business, studying Finance and Business Analytics with a minor in Economics. At Pitt, I serve on the e-board for Pitt Stop to Wall Street and work as a Professional Development Consultant in the Tafel Center. This summer, I’ll be joining Citizens Bank in Boston as an Investment Banking Analyst Intern.

I’m currently studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I chose Florence not only because my family is from Naples, but also because I wanted to fully immerse myself in a new culture and way of life. My goal for this experience is to push myself out of my comfort zone, adapt to new situations, and embrace unfamiliarity. I hope that navigating these changes now will help me build the resilience, adaptability, and cultural awareness I’ll need to transition smoothly into the fast-paced, dynamic culture of Corporate America this summer. Studying abroad is my way of preparing myself for the professional challenges and transitions that lie ahead.

I am living in a much smaller and older apartment than I’m typically used to, with five other girls. Initially, the biggest challenge for me was navigating the apartment. Small differences like not having a dryer, learning the rules for disposing of trash, smaller showers, etc., made it harder to feel at home. However, I’ve become extremely close with my roommates, and they not only help me navigate these new challenges but also make the apartment feel like home. Additionally, our apartment is in a great location, which has allowed us to really explore the neighborhood and find our favorite spots to hang out. Being so close to the Duomo Piazza has been especially nice, as it has become part of my weekly routine to get out of the apartment and discover new areas, shops, and experiences.

The Florence campus reminds me a little of Pitt’s campus in that it is located in the city. However, there are some differences, Florence feels much less like a traditional campus, and the classrooms are significantly smaller. I have actually enjoyed the smaller classes, though, because they have given me the chance to connect more with my classmates than I usually would. I’ve also really enjoyed taking more creative classes, which has reminded me of the importance of being creative.

Overall, Florence has already pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best ways possible. Now that I feel more settled in, I’m looking forward to what’s to come. Despite only being here a month, I can already say that I’ve learned so much about adapting to change and navigating a life that is entirely different from the comfortable routine I used to have.