When I first arrived in Ireland, I was excited but also nervous about being in a completely new country and navigating an unfamiliar environment. Now, I can confidently say that this experience has helped me grow in more ways than I expected. I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to spend my summer abroad, and I know that the lessons I learned will continue to influence me throughout my time at Pitt and in my future career.
One of the biggest areas of growth for me personally was becoming more independent. This was my first time living in a different country, and I had to learn how to figure things out on my own. Whether it was navigating public transportation, traveling to new places, dealing with unexpected problems, or simply figuring out everyday life in a new city, I learned that I was more capable than I initially thought. I became much more comfortable solving problems on my own and trusting myself to figure things out. Being away from home also taught me that things will not always go exactly as planned, and that being able to adapt is often more important than having everything figured out in advance.
My internship was another major part of my growth. I gained valuable professional experience that I would not have been able to get from a classroom alone. I was able to work with real financial information, use programs like QuickBooks, analyze business records, and contribute to actual projects. More importantly, I learned what it is like to be part of a professional environment and what is expected of an employee. I also had the opportunity to build relationships with my coworkers and my boss, which allowed me to learn from people who have real experience in the industry. These connections are something I will carry with me beyond the end of my internship.
Academically, this experience gave me a new perspective on the concepts I have been learning at Pitt. Having an internship under my belt means that I can now connect what I learn in my classes to real-world situations. When I return to Pitt, I will be able to approach my coursework with a better understanding of how businesses actually operate and why the concepts I am learning matter. I also think having professional experience will help me take advantage of future opportunities because I now have a better understanding of what I am interested in, what I am good at, and what skills I still want to develop.
One of my biggest takeaways from this experience was learning to look at business from a more global perspective. Before coming to Dublin, I understood that businesses operated differently around the world, but experiencing another country’s business culture firsthand made that idea much more meaningful. I saw differences in communication, workplace expectations, marketing, and professional relationships. I learned that something that seems normal or obvious in one country may not be viewed the same way somewhere else. This taught me the importance of being open-minded and considering different perspectives before making assumptions.
Outside of my internship, simply experiencing another culture was one of the most valuable parts of my time abroad. I was able to meet people from different backgrounds, explore Ireland, travel to new places, and experience life outside of the environment I have always known. I made friendships that I hope will last long after the program ended. These experiences reminded me that there is so much more to the world than what I see in my everyday life at home. Traveling and meeting new people allowed me to understand different perspectives and appreciate how much I can learn by stepping outside of my comfort zone.
As I bring this experience back to Pitt, I want to carry that openness and independence with me. I want to continue challenging myself to meet new people, listen to perspectives that are different from my own, and take advantage of opportunities that push me outside of my comfort zone. Professionally, I hope to use everything I learned in Dublin to become a more confident and capable business student and future businesswoman. My internship experience will help me approach future opportunities with more confidence, while the cultural experiences I had will remind me to think about business from a broader, global perspective.
I am especially grateful to my scholarship donor for helping make this experience possible. Studying abroad was an opportunity that allowed me to grow personally, academically, and professionally in ways that I could not have experienced from a classroom alone. I came to Dublin hoping to gain international experience, but I am leaving with so much more: new friendships, professional connections, greater independence, valuable skills, and a completely new perspective on the world.
Most importantly, this experience taught me that things are not always as simple as they seem. There are different ways to communicate, work, solve problems, and understand the world. Experiencing those differences firsthand has made me more curious, adaptable, and open-minded. I know I will bring these lessons back with me to Pitt and carry them throughout my future career. My time abroad has not only helped me become a better student and future professional, but also a more confident person, and I am excited to see where those lessons take me next.