Hey everyone! My name is Ananyaa. I am a rising junior at Pitt Business. I am double-majoring in Finance and Marketing. I am also from the Pittsburgh area. I am spending six weeks in London through the Global Business Institute. While I am here, I am completing a part- time internship and a course about the history of London. I am writing to you with a week in London under my belt.

Before talking about my experience so far, here is a little about me! At Pitt, I am the VP of Marketing for LEAP and have completed a social media internship at Mezz Entertainment. I am also the Pitt ambassador for the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation. I am involved in a few other clubs and organizations on campus as well. I am a member of Smart Women’s Security and the hospitality chair for Pitt Dhirana. I am also in a service sorority called Omega Phi Alpha. Off campus, I love being creative in my free time. I am a Bharatanatyam dancer; I student-teach at my dance school, Natyakriya, and perform around the Pittsburgh area. I love to do arts and crafts, read, and walk around in parks and cities(which is a perfect hobby for the city of London). 

I chose to study abroad in general because I have been in Pittsburgh my whole life. I was born and raided plus have done all of my education in the same city. Studying abroad is my opportunity to experience a world and culture outside of Pittsburgh. I specifically wanted to study abroad in London because London is an incredible city for businesses and there is so much to do in one area. The UK’s main language is, of course, English which is an added plus. Six weeks felt like the perfect length of time as well. I did not want to be away from home for a super long time, so the summer program was a great option. Through this program, I hope to gain a better understanding of the corporate world and gain experience that I can translate to other opportunities. As a rising junior, I am beginning to look for serious internships for next summer that can lead to a full time job. My hope is that this internship opportunity will enhance my skills and help me secure opportunities for the future.

3 goals I am hoping to accomplish in the next six weeks are:

1. Expand my network– Through this experience, I would like to connect with my co-workers, mentor, and peers in my internship and class. I truly believe that regardless of where someone is in their career, building a professional relationship and including as many people as you can in your network can help you in the long run.
2. Gain practical knowledge– The exposure to different teaching methods, industry practices, and cultural approaches to problem solving can be super helpful in any position. Experiencing this outside the United States will allow me to look at solving problems through a different lens.
3. Enhance my confidence– While I have previous internship experience, I have never had to go into the office. Everything I have done professionally has been remote. Working in person comes with its own skills of communicating on the spot and interacting with colleagues and mentors face to face. Going into the office can help me gain confidence and prepare me for more in person opportunities.

Overall, I am super excited to learn more about myself professionally and personally. I look forward to continually reflecting on my journey in London and sharing my experiences.