Hi! My name is Victoria Shin, and I am a current junior at Pitt studying Finance and Business Information Systems. I am originally from Northern Virginia, which is just in the Washington DC metropolitan area. On campus, I am involved in Smart Women Securities and Incline Consulting. This upcoming summer, I will be interning at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) where I will work as a Business Analysis Intern in the Federal Health sector. Outside of my involvement, I love to spend time with family and friends, be creative, and stay active.

This spring semester, I am studying in London through the GBI program at Richmond American University. As a junior, I definitely wanted a chance to participate in study abroad. Outside the academic opportunities, I wanted to challenge myself personally outside of my comfort zone. I believe that immersing myself in a new environment, meeting new friends, and adjusting to a new rhythm of life will strengthen my personal growth as well as my future professional growth.

 What drew me to the London program was the city’s hub for global commerce and finance industries. I will be taking a FinTech course here, and I am excited to dive deep into this course while learning in the world’s most influential markets. The GBI program was also a great way to fulfill my degree requirements while taking unique courses that I may not otherwise be able to take at Pitt. London is also an incredibly huge and diverse city, and as someone who loves city environments, I was very drawn to London’s many neighborhoods and mutli-cultural environment. So far, I have taken trips to different museums and art galleries, learning more about London’s rich history and arts & culture. 

While studying in Richmond, I definitely noticed many differences between Pitt and Richmond. At Pitt, I am used to being in large lectures, however, since being here, most of my classes have been much smaller, allowing me to see familiar faces and know my professors more. The campus is also located in a prominent business park in Chiswick which offers great opportunities to network with nearby companies. Having been here for almost a month, the weather has been quite rainy and grey, much similar to Pittsburgh. However, it is much less cold, which I am grateful for. I definitely am looking forward to the warmer weather in the spring.

I am currently living in a single studio in Acton, which is in Zone 3 of London. Because London is such a large city, it is broken into different zones: Zone 1 being the central London and the greater zones being farther out into the city. My commute to the University is only 30 minutes, which personally doesn’t feel too long especially compared to my prior commutes in D.C. Luckily my classes are only from Tuesdays to Thursdays, allowing me leisure to explore London on my off days. Adjusting to my new lifestyle, I found that having small consistent routines helps me to mentally balance my week. I have learned to take things slow for the first weeks and be open to adjusting with the new pace. 

London has quickly become a favorite city of mine. So far, I’ve gotten to see Big Ben, Notting Hill, Borough Market, and even took a day trip to the University of Oxford! While exploring, I truly love finding new galleries, bookstores, cafes, and even vintage shops in the city.

I have truly enjoyed getting to meet so many people and make new friends while in London. I’m really learning to take it all in, and I cannot wait to continue documenting more of London and Europe!