About Me

Hi! My name is Gabrielle Trapp, I am a rising junior double majoring in Global Management and Marketing, with a minor in Korean and a certificate in Leadership and Ethics.

Personally, I would say I am a creative and social person. I love hanging out with my friends making new friends, watching tv and listening to music! I am more of a homebody, but when I travel, I like to explore and go new places. Also, I am a HUDGE foodie, so I am excited to try different restaurants in Seoul!

Academically, I have a double major in Global Management and Marketing, but thus far I have been focusing on my gen eds, so this coming semester I am looking forward to taking classes that are in my area of study. Then I recently declared my Korean minor, because at first I was taking the language for fun, then last semester I decided to add in the minor. I look forward to the opportunity to practice my language skills in Seoul! On campus, I am involved in Phi Beta Lambda [PBL] a professional business organization, where I will be serving as the next president. Then during orientation week I serve as an assistant coordinator for Pitt’s move in.

Professionally, I will be a Professional Development Consultant in the Tafel Center at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Business. I am excited to be able to help my underclassmen growth professionally and be a resource for them. Then this summer I will be working for a HireDivierity as a marketing intern. HireDivierty is a Korean startup that provides essential settlement services- such as administration, finance, and telecommunications- to international students staying in Korea.

Why IIP

I knew from the beginning of my sophomore year that I wanted to pursue this program because it truly offers the best of both worlds—studying abroad while gaining internship experience. The opportunity to study abroad alone is incredible, as it will allow me to broaden my global perspective and deepen my understanding of different cultures. On top of that, the professional experience I will gain through the internship, which will give me the chance to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world work in an international setting.

Why Korea

I have been to Seoul before for the Plus3 program, and I really enjoyed my time there, so I wanted to go to Korean again for a longer period. While there are plenty of other countries offered in this program, Seoul caught my eye once again. Additionally, since I have been before, there is a little tiny bit of familiarity. I will still have a completely different experience, and there will be a lot of adjustments that I will need to make, but adapting will not be nearly as drastic as if I went to another country.

Also, with all that I have been able to learn from my classes for my Korean minor, I want to opportunity to apply what I have learned and grow my language skills even more. I have never had the opportunity to practice my language skills outside of the classroom, so I look forward to all that I will be able to learn.

What I Hope to Gain from the Program

Personally, I hope this experience pushes me to challenge myself and build greater confidence in my professional abilities. I want to step outside my comfort zone and try new opportunities I may not have again.

Academically, I want to strengthen my hard skills and apply everything I’ve learned so far. Even though this is my first internship, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge up to this point, and I’m excited to finally put it into practice.

Professionally, I want to stay true to who I am in the workplace while collaborating effectively with my future coworkers. It can be easy to blend in or conform, especially as a new hire, but I want to maintain my authenticity while still delivering high‑quality work and performing to the best of my abilities.

I am very excited to see all that I will be able to accomplish in this short time and see all the different ways that I will be able to grow as an individual