Hi everyone! My name is Abigail Kelly and I just completed my sophomore year. I’m an English Writing major with minors in business and statistics, and I’m also pursuing the sustainability certificate. I am a part of the National English Honors Society Sigma Tau Deta and I work at Saxbys, which is an experiential learning cafe in the Cathedral of Learning. Outside of class, I find time to read and rock climb, which are two of my favorite activities! I’m eagerly counting down the days until I go to Paris, especially because of how much of an impact this program will have on me academically. 

This May, I will participate in Pitt’s Culture Through Literature in Paris program, where several other students and I take literature and writing courses centered around French culture. Not only will these courses give me a cross-cultural understanding of a field I’m incredibly passionate about, but they will also provide me with a great opportunity to meet peers who are just as interested in this subject as I am. The course Writing in Paris is something that I am especially excited about because I always value the insights different professors can give to my writing. The literature course, Paris Through the Ages, will help me academically, as it will supplement my critical analyses for future literature classes I take for my major. Being able to draw on my experiences abroad during the remainder of my time as an undergraduate is something that I value about this program.

As someone with limited experience abroad, this program will have great personal benefits for me. The excursions scheduled for our group involve activities such as tours of Versailles and the Louvre, so in addition to learning about literature in Paris, I will be exposed to other forms of art and culture. I plan to immerse myself in French culture as much as possible during this program, and this will help me in the future as I have to adapt to new situations and unfamiliar experiences. This is an incredible opportunity for me, and I look forward to writing about everything I learn!