Hey everyone! It is hard to believe that my six weeks in London have officially come to an end. Looking back at my first blog post, I remember writing about the goals I hoped to accomplish during my time abroad. I wanted to expand my network, gain practical knowledge through my internship, and become more confident working in a professional environment. Looking back now, I can confidently say that I achieved all three goals, and I am leaving London with much more than I expected.
One of my biggest goals was to expand my network. Throughout my internship at China UK Gateway, I had the opportunity to work with interns from many different backgrounds. As the program went on, our company brought in more interns from China, Canada, the United Kingdom, and different parts of the United States. Working alongside people with different experiences and perspectives taught me a lot about collaborating in an international workplace. I enjoyed learning from my teammates and seeing how everyone approached projects differently. These are connections that I hope to keep as we all continue our careers.
I also wanted to gain practical knowledge that I could apply to future opportunities. During my internship, I worked on a variety of projects, including market research, planning and presenting workshops, creating marketing materials, and developing a final portfolio that I presented to China UK Gateway’s partners. Every project challenged me in a different way and gave me experience that cannot be learned in a classroom alone. One of the most valuable parts of the internship was being trusted to take ownership of my work and contribute to projects that had a real impact on the company.
Throughout these experiences, I developed several transferable skills that I know will help me during the rest of my time at Pitt Business and in my future career. Public speaking is probably the skill that improved the most. Before coming to London, I had very little experience presenting in a professional setting. Throughout my internship, I had multiple opportunities to present my work, whether it was during workshops or while presenting my final portfolio. Each presentation helped me become more comfortable speaking in front of others and communicating my ideas with confidence.
I also strengthened my adaptability and cross-cultural communication skills. One of the biggest challenges I faced was learning how to work with very little guidance from my supervisor. At first, this was difficult because I was used to having more direction. Over time, I became more confident making decisions on my own, asking questions when needed, and figuring out the best way to move projects forward. Working with teammates from different countries also taught me that there is no single “right” way to communicate or solve problems. Learning how to adjust my communication style depending on the people I was working with was an important lesson that I know will benefit me in future internships and my career.
Looking back, I think the biggest area of personal growth has been my confidence and independence. Whether it was navigating the London Underground, presenting in front of professionals, or adjusting to a new workplace and culture, I learned that I am capable of handling situations that initially seemed intimidating. Living in another country for six weeks pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but it also showed me that growth often comes from being willing to embrace unfamiliar experiences.
Overall, studying abroad has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career so far. I am returning to Pitt with new professional skills, meaningful friendships, and a greater appreciation for working with people from different backgrounds. More importantly, I am leaving London with confidence in my ability to adapt to new environments and take on future opportunities. I am incredibly grateful for everything this experience has taught me, and I know the lessons I learned here will stay with me long after this program has ended.
