I’m Madeline Ward, a rising senior at Pitt who will be heading to Prague in less than two weeks. I am majoring in media and professional communications, with minors in political science and creative writing. I’m from the suburbs of Philadelphia, so I decided to move to Pittsburgh for college to explore PA’s other major city. Since my time here at Pitt, I’ve learned to love living, exploring, and learning in a city. In my free time I enjoy going on walks, watching movies with my friends, reading books, and playing tennis.

I’ve always loved reading and writing, which is why I decided on the media and professional communications major, with a specialization in professional writing. Writing has always been my strong suit, and something I very much enjoy. My classes at Pitt have let me explore every type of professional writing such as journalism, public relations, nonfiction, advertising, and even poetry. I’ve enjoyed trying out all types of writing, which will allow me to go down whatever path of professional writing I choose in the future.

But most notably, my job writing for The Pitt News has given me the most hands-on experience in the field. At the beginning of my sophomore year, I decided on a whim to apply for a staff writer job on the news desk. Since then, I’ve learned to love journalism. The Pitt News has taught me practical skills of how to interview, research, and write journalistically. I’ve also learned to like working with a team of my editors and fellow writers, which has taught me how working with others has produced some of my best writing. I’m proud of the stories I’ve published so far, and starting in my senior year I will take the next step of becoming an assistant editor for the news desk. I am excited to gain new editing skills and explore a new potential career path.

I chose to participate in the International Internship Program in Prague. This program seems like the perfect way to gain work experience while also traveling, two things that I wanted to do this summer. I chose Prague because it was the option I knew the least about: I wanted to immerse myself in something completely new. It’s a beautiful city with a rich culture I am eager to learn more about, so what better way than to do so than to live and work in Prague for a whole summer? I am ready to get out of the suburbs and back into a city, just like I did three years ago when I was a freshman headed to Pittsburgh. Through my research, it’s clear that Prague has much to offer in every way, from its historic architecture and vibrant arts scene to its diverse food culture and lively public spaces.

My internship in Prague will be writing for EARCH.cz, the most read online architecture magazine in the Czech Republic. I cannot wait to work with a new team of writers and editors who will help me get used to interviewing, researching, and writing in this new city. Working at EARCH is exactly the type of work experience I was hoping to have this summer.

Through this experience, I want to gain professional skills in a very different and unfamiliar environment. I am hoping this will teach me how to become more comfortable in every new professional setting that I will take part of in the future. I am ready to gain hands-on writing experience, as well as what it’s like to work in a different professional journalism environment. I am elated to be able to travel to a new country, and I am looking forward to using my weekends off to explore even more European countries. With less than two weeks before my flight to Prague, I am already anticipating a rewarding and thrilling summer that I will never forget.