At the beginning of the program, almost everything felt unfamiliar, new and I was filled with so much excitement heading into the trip. I was learning how to navigate the city, adjusting to a new work environment, exploring Swedish culture, and trying to establish a routine that worked for me. Now, looking back, I can see how much more comfortable and independent I have become. I got myself settled into a routine in Sweden, so now heading back to the States feels strange because I became so comfortable over there.

One of the biggest areas of growth for me has been independence. Living and working in another country forced me to handle new situations on my own. Whether it was navigating public transportation, communicating in a different culture, or starting projects at THREAD with unclear directions, I had to become more confident figuring things out as I went. At the beginning, I sometimes wanted more structure or clearer instructions, especially at work. Over time, I learned that not every situation will come with a step-by-step guide. Sometimes the most important thing is to start, ask good questions, and adjust as you learn more. Most of this credit goes to the team at THREAD that created a very welcoming environment for myself and the other interns to learn in and create our own impact.

This was especially true during my internship at THREAD. A lot of my work involved research, customer analysis, competitor analysis, strategy, and co-leading the Comeback360 project as a new leg for the THREAD model. These projects were not always simple because the information was sometimes difficult to find or organize. Different companies shared different levels of detail, and it was my job to make sense of it and present it clearly. Through this, I became better at research, organizing information, building charts, and turning large amounts of data into something useful. I also learned how important it is to create a rough version, get feedback, and keep improving the work instead of expecting it to be perfect right away. In Comeback, specifically we were creating straight from scratch, which was new compared to my Human Capital work so there was a much different pace of play when it came to working on that project.

Professionally, I learned skills that I know will help me in future jobs and internships. I became more comfortable working independently, communicating my ideas, receiving feedback, and managing open-ended projects. I also learned how important visual communication can be. It is one thing to find information, but it is another thing to make that information clear for someone else. That is a skill I will definitely bring back with me to the University of Pittsburgh and into my future career.

Another major part of my growth came from working with people from completely different backgrounds. At THREAD, I worked with coworkers, internal team members, external partners, and the other six interns in the program. Everyone brought different experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking. Collaborating with the other interns was especially helpful because we were all learning together. I would notice something that one intern was doing and try to apply that my work and projects, and it was pretty interesting gathering different tools in my toolbox to use at different stops during my project. We can share ideas, help each other understand assignments, and encourage one another to strive for better work.

Kevin and THREAD also taught me a lot about what professional success can look like. One thing that stood out to me was how Kevin often talked about loving what he does. He made it clear that when you enjoy your work and believe in it, it does not always feel like something you are forced to do. That idea really stuck with me. Before this experience, I think I mostly connected success with achievement, hard work, and moving forward in a career. I still think those things matter, but THREAD showed me that success is also about enjoying the work, staying balanced, and building a life where your career feels meaningful.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to live and work in Stockholm. This experience was truly once in a lifetime, and I know I will carry the lessons with me long after returning home. I am thankful for THREAD, Kevin, my coworkers, the other interns, and everyone who helped make this experience possible. It has changed the way I think about work, culture, independence, and my future.