The closer I get to leaving the United States for Stockholm, the more real this feels. Between travel plans, packing, and trying to picture my internship, it’s finally sinking in: I’m doing this. I feel two things at once — excitement and nerves. I can’t wait to live inside a different culture instead of just reading about it, but I also know that starting a job in another country is a big leap. There will be moments when I feel unsure of myself, and I’ve made peace with that. Those are usually the moments that teach you the most.
About Me
My name is Grayson, and I’m a student at the University of Pittsburgh, heading to Stockholm through an international internship program. Personally, I’m someone who learns by doing and likes being part of a team. I enjoy meeting people, taking on challenges, and figuring things out as I go — even when that means being uncomfortable for a while. I think this trip will test me in exactly that way, and I’m ready for it. Sports are also a big part of who I am. I’m a die-hard American football fan, and being at Pitt has only deepened that. Since soccer dominates in Sweden, I’m looking forward to learning a sport I barely know. Sports have always been my shortcut to connecting with people, and I’m hoping it does the same for me in Stockholm.
Academically, Pitt has sharpened my communication, research, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. I’ve learned a lot in classrooms, but I think working on real projects — ones that might actually move the needle for a company — will teach me things a lecture never could. It’s one thing to discuss a business problem in class; it’s another to sit in the middle of a real one.
Professionally, I’m drawn to business, consulting, strategy, and work that revolves around people. I like digging into information, spotting patterns, and making sense of the mess, and I like doing it alongside other people even more.
The Program and Why I Chose It
I’m spending this time abroad through an international internship program that places me at THREAD, a consulting firm in Stockholm. I chose it because I wanted more than a vacation. I didn’t want to see Sweden as a tourist passing through; I wanted to know what ordinary life feels like there and what it’s like to be part of a real workplace.
Stockholm stood out for its reputation in business, technology, innovation, and sustainability. I’m curious how Swedish companies operate and how the workday differs from what I’m used to in the U.S. — in how people communicate, lead, and work as a team. At THREAD, I expect to work on research, customer and competitor analysis, strategy, and visual presentations. The part I’m most curious about is the craft of it: how consultants turn scattered information into something clear and genuinely useful for a client.
What I Hope to Gain
Personally, I hope I come back more independent and more sure of myself. Being far from home will force me to solve my own problems and get comfortable asking for help when I need it — something I’m still working on. Outside of work, I want to explore the city itself, from its neighborhoods and museums to the islands scattered around it, and come away actually understanding a little of Swedish culture rather than just having seen it.
Academically, I want to connect what I’ve learned at Pitt to real work, and sharpen my research, analysis, and presentation skills along the way.
Professionally, I want to become a better teammate and a clearer communicator, and to find out firsthand whether consulting is a path I want to keep walking.
I know challenges are coming, and I think I’m ready to learn from them. My hope is that I fly home with new skills, a few real friendships, and a much better sense of where I’m headed next.