As the Pittsburgh portion of this program comes to an end, I have had the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally in ways I did not expect. Personally, one of my biggest takeaways has been becoming more open to trying new things. Before coming to Pittsburgh, I tended to stay within my comfort zone, but over the past few weeks I have challenged myself to step outside of it. I have tried foods from cultures I had never experienced before, including Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and Indian cuisine. I have also been more willing to take part in new experiences, such as joining a random group of people in Schenley Plaza to play ultimate frisbee. These moments may seem small, but they have helped me become more open-minded, adaptable, and confident in unfamiliar situations.
Professionally, this program has given me a much better understanding of what it truly means to be a college student. I have learned that college is about much more than attending classes—it requires responsibility, independence, effective time management, and making the most of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. I also have a much clearer understanding of the overall purpose of the Global Haller Fellowship than I did when the program first began. I now see that the program is designed not only to expose us to different businesses and communities, but also to challenge us to think critically, collaborate with others, and develop practical solutions to real-world issues. That perspective has helped me better understand how each activity connects to the larger goals of the program.
As we prepare to leave for Ireland, I am most excited to meet people from different backgrounds and learn from their experiences. I am especially looking forward to gaining a deeper understanding of Ireland’s modern conflicts, history, and culture by hearing directly from the people who live there. I think experiencing these perspectives firsthand will help me better understand the communities we will be working with and provide valuable insight as we continue developing ideas throughout the remainder of the program.
