Hi, my name is Tess Durfee, and I just finished up my sophomore year at the University of Pittsburgh. I am from Havertown, PA, which is outside of Philadelphia. I am studying accounting and finance while staying involved in Phi Chi Theta, a professional business fraternity. Being involved with Pitt Business organizations has given me so many opportunities, and I am excited to share this one with you!
This summer I am lucky enough to be a part of the Global Business Institute London program! For six weeks this summer I will be taking a Historical London class at Richmond American University London and working at a sales agency for a part-time internship. I chose this program because it has a great balance of taking a class, being abroad, and getting valuable professional experience.
As I have settled into London during my first week, I have created three goals for this experience:
- To sightsee as much as I can: London is a big city with a lot of different neighborhoods that I plan to explore. I also have a couple trips outside of London that I am excited for. Studying abroad has always been a goal of mine because it allows you to experience living in a different place. I am hoping to take advantage of these next six weeks to see and do as much as I can.
- Gain perspective on England’s business world: I decided to apply for this program because London is a business hub and there are great opportunities for an internship. My goal when working with my placement company is to gain as much knowledge as I can. There are already some cultural differences I am starting to pick up on after my first week. I am excited to learn even more about my placement company and the professional world in general.
- Become more independent: I have never lived independently before. Although college has helped me work towards this goal, I have never been this far away from my support system. This can be intimidating at first, but I am excited to be pushed outside of my comfort zone. Living without roommates and having to rely heavily on public transportation are new things I had to adjust to this week. I am hoping these new skills and experiences continue to help me grow into a more independent person by the end of this program.
Thank you so much for following along with my journey. I am excited to see where these next six weeks take me. Cheers!
