Bonjour à tous! My name is Zoé MacKenzie, and I will be entering my senior year at the University of Pittsburgh. I grew up in Media PA, which most people know as “outside of Philly” or the DELCO area. When I toured Pitt for the first time, I fell in love with the atmosphere. I adored the campus, as well as the ambiance the city had to offer. I truly felt at home, and it was in that moment when I knew that this was the school for me. Now, at 21 years old, I am currently majoring in International Studies and Sociology with a minor in French. I have also recently been accepted into the MPIA 4+1 program at Pitt! With that, I will be completing a master’s degree in International Political Economy, graduating in the Spring of 2028! Beyond my academic experience at the University of Pittsburgh, I enjoy participating in the multiple clubs our school has to offer. Last year, I occupied the role of secretary in the Women’s Rugby Football Club at Pitt; now I serve as president, and I am beyond excited for our upcoming Fall season! We do a lot of traveling each weekend to different schools, and we practice three times per week as a team in preparation for our matches. I love the spirit we carry together, and that kind of optimism is something I try to bring with me everywhere I go. In addition to sports, I also play trombone with the University Symphonic Band. I have been playing for 13 years now, as music has always been an outlet for me. We play a range of repertoire and hold two concerts during the spring semester!
Outside of my academics, I have had numerous jobs, especially in the hospitality industry. Working in a restaurant setting taught me how to be patient, and ameliorated my communication skills. I learned how to multitask while being punctual, and that is a skill I will forever hold onto. Regarding my internship experience, I was a certified Behavioral Health Technician at Elwyn last summer. The non profit organization has helped people with autism, intellectual development, and behavioral challenges since 1852. As an RBT, I worked with children on the spectrum where I monitored their behaviors and assisted in developing their social skills by implementing reinforcements/activities best suited for each individual. Moreover, I drafted daily progress reports on each client while observing their behavioral habits. I truly enjoyed the work that I did, and seeing the impact I made on each of their lives was beyond fulfilling. The internship showed me the importance of the field, and helped me realize that significant hands-on work is the kind of experience I aspire to pursue.
This summer, I have the incredible opportunity to partake in the International Internship Program (IIP) through the Pitt School of Business! For this program, I will be traveling to Paris, where I will work within an NGO. I am so enthusiastic to start, and I cannot wait to be fully enveloped in the French culture. While I have a minor in French, I am also a European citizen. My mother was born and raised in Haubourdin, which is a small town next to Lille about an hour and a half from Paris. Most of my family lives in Northern France, and I will absolutely be visiting them during my time abroad. Through this program, I hope to not only become more fluent in the French language, but I also hope to gain some insight on the professional world in Europe. As I am an International Studies double major, it is a dream of mine to work abroad professionally. With this experience, I will have a leg up on how organizations operate abroad, granting me new perspectives. Furthermore, I want to take this opportunity to rediscover myself, both academically and personally. As grateful as I am to live in America, I am eager to capture new perspectives as a stranger in a (somewhat) foreign country.
As an individual, I find that I am very open minded. Having a mother who was born in a different country enabled me to see things differently and observe the world in a unique way. I am someone who is always curious, and I am quite extroverted when it comes to interacting, hence my sociological studies. I am a hard worker and a fast learner who finds herself able to adapt to any situation that comes her way. I understand that being in Europe will put me in some difficult circumstances at times, and I will have to find my way around on my own. While that may scare some people, these uncertain experiences excite me. There is no such thing as certainty in life, and it is the capacity to endure uncertainty that allows growth and maturity. With that, I welcome you to join me on this journey!