Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I am so grateful to everyone who made it such a special semester. This experience gave me the chance to travel, meet new people, and see so much. Before this semester, I’ve traveled out of the country one time.
While abroad, I was able to travel to Paris, Budapest, London, Porto, Barcelona, Belgium (Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent), Dubrovnik and Valetta. I also took time to see a lot of Italy. Before this semester, I’ve been to Rome, Naples, Caserta, and Ischia. I went back to Rome for a weekend and saw Siena, Pisa, Salerno, Amalfi, Cinque Terre, San Gimignano and I am taking a day trip to Venice soon. Every place I went to has its own culture and history, which made each trip feel completely different. Dubrovnik was my favorite because it had the perfect mix of beaches and an amazing Old Town. My roommates and I traveled there during Easter weekend, so we had an extra day to walk around.
Personally, I’ve grown a lot from this experience. I’ve become way more independent and confident in doing things on my own, like navigating public transportation, traveling between countries, and handling everyday responsibilities. I also feel a lot more comfortable meeting new people and putting myself out there, which is something I didn’t always feel confident doing before. Academically and professionally, studying abroad helped me see things from a more global perspective.
The biggest skills I developed were adaptability and problem-solving. Things didn’t always go as planned, whether it was figuring out transportation or adjusting travel plans, but I was able to learn how to stay calm in those situations. I also improved my communication skills by interacting with people from different backgrounds and learning how to navigate those situations. The biggest takeaway from this experience is how much growth can come from stepping outside of your comfort zone. Going forward, I want to keep that same mindset during my time at Pitt Business by continuing to try new things, meet new people, and take advantage of opportunities that challenge me. In my future career, especially in finance, I know I’ll be in fast-paced environments where things don’t always go as planned, and this experience has prepared me to handle that. Overall, studying abroad not only gave me amazing memories, but it also helped shape who I am and how I approach new experiences.
